barrel-n; 8 Senses

Sense Number 1: the spiral firing tube of a gun

Commentary: BARREL[+artifact][+tube][+spiral][+firing][+gun]
NOTE: refers to a spiral tube for propagating something along.

Examples:
The robber pointed the barrel of his gun at the bank clerk.
The stunt pilot did three barrel rolls in his aerobatic plane. (a spiral course)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: a cylindrical container

Commentary: BARREL[+artifact][+container][+cylindrical][+tapered]
NOTE: does not focus on the substance being contained (see Sense 4)

Examples:
These wine barrels are made of new French oak.
We need to move these old barrels out of the warehouse.
The barrel of a timepiece is a cylindrical metal box that contains the main spring.
It's just another piece of pork barrel legislation. (figurative extension)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: having a bulging, cylindrical shape

Commentary: BARREL[+shape][+cylinder][+bulging]
NOTE: refers to anything with a shape like a barrel, does not imply a container

Examples:
The great Italian basso has a barrel chest and a thick neck. (shaped like a barrel)
This is a type of large barrel cactus. (shaped like a barrel)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: a quantity, a unit of capacity

Commentary: BARREL[+quantity][+unit][+capacity][+oil/+beer/+pork]
NOTE: focus is on how much substance is in the container, not the container itself (Sense 2)

Examples:
Today oil was trading at over $70US a barrel. (a quantity)
How many gallons are there in a barrel of beer?
18th-century sailing ships carried many barrels of salted pork for provision.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4, 5

Sense Number 5: the loins and belly of a four-legged animal

Commentary: BARREL[+structure][+anatomical][+trunk][+quadruped][+horse/+cow/+pig]

Examples:
The red stallion was long-legged with a wide barrel.
The pigs lowered their barrels into the cooling mud.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 6: cash only, no credit given or taken

Commentary: idiom: on_the_barrel

Examples:
This flea market takes cash on the barrel.
John bought his new Mercedes on the barrel.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: on_the_barrel

Sense Number 7: being in a disadvantageous state

Commentary: idiom: over_a_barrel

Examples:
The French have them over a barrel in regards to this situation.
John has me over a barrel in this chess game.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: over_a_barrel

Sense Number 8: none of the above

Commentary: Automatically generated NOTA sense (bbn)

Examples:

Mappings: