Barium.

ETYM New Lat., from Greek barys heavy.
White metallic element. barium meal, drink containing a compound of barium which is opaque to X-rays, taken before or during X-ray examination of digestive tract.
Soft, silver-white, metallic element, symbol Ba, atomic number 56, atomic weight 137.33. It is one of the alkaline-earth metals, found in nature as barium carbonate and barium sulfate. As the sulfate it is used in medicine: taken as a suspension (a “barium meal”), its movement along the gut is followed using X-rays. The barium sulfate, which is opaque to X-rays, shows the shape of the gut, revealing any abnormalities of the alimentary canal. Barium is also used in alloys, pigments, and safety matches and, with strontium, forms the emissive surface in cathode-ray tubes. It was first discovered in barytes or heavy spar.
A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite; SYN. Ba, atomic number 56.

ETYM Old Eng. barre, French barre, from Late Lat. barra, W. bar the branch of a tree, bar, baren branch, Gael. and Irish barra bar.
1. A rigid piece of metal.
2. A rod of metal used to obstruct openings.
3. (Usually in the plural) Jail.
4. A counter where one can purchase food or drink.
5. A submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore.
6. (Law) A railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried.
7. A unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter.
A unit of pressure equal to 0.99 atmospheres or 14.233 psi.

ETYM Old Eng. barrere, barere, French barrière, from barre bar. Related to Bar.
1. A structure or object that impedes free movement.
2. Any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; SYN. roadblock.
3. Anything serving to maintain separation by obstructing vision or access.

An intangible barrier within the hierarchy of a company that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions.

Barium.

ETYM New Lat., from Greek barys heavy.
White metallic element. barium meal, drink containing a compound of barium which is opaque to X-rays, taken before or during X-ray examination of digestive tract.
Soft, silver-white, metallic element, symbol Ba, atomic number 56, atomic weight 137.33. It is one of the alkaline-earth metals, found in nature as barium carbonate and barium sulfate. As the sulfate it is used in medicine: taken as a suspension (a “barium meal”), its movement along the gut is followed using X-rays. The barium sulfate, which is opaque to X-rays, shows the shape of the gut, revealing any abnormalities of the alimentary canal. Barium is also used in alloys, pigments, and safety matches and, with strontium, forms the emissive surface in cathode-ray tubes. It was first discovered in barytes or heavy spar.
A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite; SYN. Ba, atomic number 56.

A crystalline insoluble compound BaSO4 that is used especially as a pigment and extender, as a filler (as in fluids used in gas and oil drilling), and as a substance opaque to X rays in medical photography of the alimentary canal.