BARON

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does baron mean? 

• BARON (noun)
  The noun BARON has 3 senses:

1. a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank

2. a British peer of the lowest rank

3. a very wealthy or powerful businessman

  Familiarity information: BARON used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BARON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("baron" is a kind of...):

Lord; noble; nobleman (a titled peer of the realm)

Derivation:

baronial (impressive in appearance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A British peer of the lowest rank

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("baron" is a kind of...):

peer (a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A very wealthy or powerful businessman

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

baron; big businessman; business leader; king; magnate; mogul; power; top executive; tycoon

Context example:

an oil baron

Hypernyms ("baron" is a kind of...):

businessman; man of affairs (a person engaged in commercial or industrial business (especially an owner or executive))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "baron"):

oil tycoon (a powerful person in the oil business)

 Context examples 

“Your doubts, Sir Oliver, shall soon be resolved,” answered the prince, laughing heartily, as did many of the barons who surrounded them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A poor honourable is no catch, and I cannot imagine any liking in the case, for take away his rants, and the poor baron has nothing.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Baron Rothschild's private secretary, a large-nosed Jew in tight boots, affably beamed upon the world, as if his master's name crowned him with a golden halo.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Once upon a time the king held a great feast, and asked thither all her suitors; and they all sat in a row, ranged according to their rank—kings, and princes, and dukes, and earls, and counts, and barons, and knights.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Below on either side of the steps were forty or fifty barons, knights, and courtiers, ranged in a triple row to the right and the left, with a clear passage in the centre.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She could not tell Miss Crawford that those woods belonged to Sotherton, she could not carelessly observe that she believed that it was now all Mr. Rushworth's property on each side of the road, without elation of heart; and it was a pleasure to increase with their approach to the capital freehold mansion, and ancient manorial residence of the family, with all its rights of court-leet and court-baron.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Yesterday at dinner, when an Austrian officer stared at us and then said something to his friend, a rakish-looking baron, about 'ein wonderschones Blondchen', Fred looked as fierce as a lion, and cut his meat so savagely it nearly flew off his plate.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

To the astonishment of the knight, his words provoked a burst of merriment from the barons round, in which the two kings and the prince were fain to join.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“We are your subjects, sire,” said the Gascon barons, though with no very good grace.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Neither lord, baron, knight, or commoner shall have as much as a strike of flax of mine whilst I have strength to wag this sword.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)