Meaning & use

bar line

noun·Academic

A vertical line drawn across a musical staff to mark the division between measures.

See it in a sentence

The composer added an extra bar line to separate the two contrasting phrases.

Beginning students often struggle to keep their notes aligned correctly with each bar line.

A note on using this word

A bar line marks the boundary between measures, while a double bar line signals the end of a section or an entire piece.

Words with a similar meaning

measure line

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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