WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
barn•burn•er
(bärn′bûr′nər),USA pronunciation n.
- Dialect Terms, Informal Terms[Informal.]something that is highly exciting, impressive, etc.:The All Stars game was a real barnburner.
- Dialect Terms[Chiefly Pennsylvania.]a wooden friction match.
- American History(cap.) a member of the progressive faction in the Democratic party in New York State 1845–52. Cf. Hunker.
- 1835–45, American; barn1 + burner; (def. 3) so called with reference to burning down a barn to get rid of rats
'barnburner' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):