资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Barren \Bar"ren\, a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne,
   baraigne, F. br['e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm.
   br['e]kha[~n], markha[~n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare,
   principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc. barau,
   baru, fasting.]
   1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young;
      sterile; -- said of women and female animals.

            She was barren of children.           --Bp. Hall.

   2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; ?rile.
      ``Barren mountain tracts.'' --Macaulay.

   3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.

            Brilliant but barren reveries.        --Prescott.

            Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter.
                                                  --Swift.

   4. Mentally dull; stupid. --Shak.

   {Barren flower}, a flower which has only stamens without a
      pistil, or which as neither stamens nor pistils.

   {Barren Grounds} (Geog.), a vast tract in British America
      northward of the forest regions.

   {Barren Ground bear} (Zo["o]l.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting
      the Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the
      brown bear of Europe.

   {Barren Ground caribou} (Zo["o]l.), a small reindeer
      ({Rangifer Gr[oe]nlandicus}) peculiar to the Barren
      Grounds and Greenland.