barbican

barbican
/bahr"bi keuhn/, n.
1. an outwork of a fortified place, as a castle.
2. a defensive outpost of any sort.
Also, barbacan.
[1250-1300; ME barbecan, barbican < OF barbacane or ML barbacana, perh. Pers balahana terrace over a roof, upper floor, altered by assoc. with L barba BEARD, a beard marking the front or face of a thing]

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▪ neighbourhood, London, United Kingdom
 area in the City of London (London, City of) containing residential towers and Barbican Centre, a complex of theatres, halls, and cultural facilities. The London Symphony Orchestra is resident in the arts complex, which is also the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

 Initial, modest plans for the Barbican Centre were drafted in the 1950s, but more extensive designs were later produced, and the centre was eventually opened in 1982. Its central complex, which is partly underground, includes Barbican Hall (an auditorium with 2,026 seats), Barbican Theatre (with more than 1,160 seats), the Pit Theatre (for smaller productions), an art gallery, a library, a conservatory, cinemas, numerous exhibition halls, restaurants, and lecture facilities. Adjacent to the arts complex are high-rise flats (apartments) built to accommodate thousands of residents (thus greatly augmenting the limited population of the “Square Mile” of central London). Terraces, fountains, and an artificial lake adorn the surrounding plazas.
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Barbican — the Barbican also the Barbican Centre a large group of buildings in central London, which includes two theatres, two cinemas, a concert hall, an ↑art gallery, restaurants, and shops ▪ There s a new Royal Shakespeare Company production of A… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Barbican — Bar bi*can, Barbacan Bar ba*can, n. [OE. barbican, barbecan, F. barbacane, LL. barbacana, barbicana, of uncertain origin: cf. Ar. barbakh aqueduct, sewer. F. barbacane also means, an opening to let out water, loophole.] 1. (Fort.) A tower or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barbĭcan — Barbĭcan, Vogel, s.u. Bartvogel …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • barbican — ● barbican nom masculin (de barbu et toucan) Oiseau (capitonidé) voisin du pic, au bec denté portant de fortes vibrisses à la base …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • barbican — outer fortification of a city or castle, mid 13c., from O.Fr. barbacane (12c.), a general Romanic word, perhaps ultimately from Arabic or Persian (Cf. bab khanah gate house ) …   Etymology dictionary

  • barbican — ► NOUN ▪ a double tower above a gate or drawbridge of a castle or fortified city. ORIGIN Old French barbacane …   English terms dictionary

  • barbican — [bär′bi kən] n. [ME < OFr barbacane < ML barbacana, < ?] a defensive tower or similar fortification at a gate or bridge leading into a town or castle …   English World dictionary

  • Barbican — Nom vernaculaire ou nom normalisé ambigu : Le terme « Barbican » s applique en français à plusieurs taxons distincts. Barbican …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Barbican — A barbican (from medieval Latin barbecana , outer fortification of a city or castle, a general Romanic word, perhaps from Arabic or Persian cf. bab khanah gate house and towered gateway [ [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=b p=2 Barbican EOL] …   Wikipedia

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