The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Barren \Bar"ren\ (b[a^]r"ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing,
   fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br['e]haigne; of uncertain
   origin; cf. Arm. br['e]kha[~n], markha[~n], sterile; LL.
   brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish
   documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.]
   1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young;
      sterile; -- said of women and female animals.
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            She was barren of children.           --Bp. Hall.
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   2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; sterile.
      "Barren mountain tracts." --Macaulay.
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   3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.
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            Brilliant but barren reveries.        --Prescott.
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            Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter.
                                                  --Swift.
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   4. Mentally dull; stupid. --Shak.
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   Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a
      pistil, or which has neither stamens nor pistils.

   Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America
      northward of the forest regions.

   Barren Ground bear (Zool.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the
      Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown
      bear of Europe.

   Barren Ground caribou (Zool.), a small reindeer (Rangifer
      Gr[oe]nlandicus) peculiar to the Barren Grounds and
      Greenland.
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