core barrel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Highly technical/specialized; confined to geology, mining, drilling, civil engineering, and petroleum industries.
Quick answer
What does “core barrel” mean?
A cylindrical steel tube used in rotary drilling to collect and retain a continuous column of rock sample (core) from a borehole.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cylindrical steel tube used in rotary drilling to collect and retain a continuous column of rock sample (core) from a borehole.
A specialized, heavy-duty drill component that houses a core bit at its bottom, an inner tube that collects the core, and a core lifter to break and retain the sample. It is the primary tool for obtaining intact cylindrical rock samples in mineral exploration, geotechnical engineering, and scientific drilling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Spelling differences (e.g., 'rigour/rigor') do not apply as it is a technical compound noun. The term is standard and identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant technical fields in both the UK and US. Virtually unknown outside these fields.
Grammar
How to Use “core barrel” in a Sentence
The crew retrieved [the core barrel] from [the borehole].We need to run [a triple-tube core barrel] in [this fractured formation].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “core barrel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The geologist requested we core-barrel the next ten metres.
American English
- They plan to core-barrel the sandstone layer for analysis.
adjective
British English
- The core-barrel section of the drill string was inspected.
American English
- We need core-barrel data for the final report.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in project reports and equipment procurement documents for mining or geotechnical ventures.
Academic
Used in geology, engineering, and earth science research papers and textbooks discussing subsurface sampling methods.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary context. Discussed in drilling plans, rig operations, geotechnical site investigations, and mineral exploration logs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “core barrel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “core barrel”
- Using 'core barrel' to refer to the rock sample itself (the correct term is 'core' or 'core sample').
- Confusing it with the entire drill string (it is one specialized component of it).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The core barrel is the tool used to collect the sample. The core sample (or simply 'core') is the cylindrical piece of rock that is collected inside the barrel.
Yes, but it's more frequent in mineral exploration and geotechnical drilling. In oil and gas, 'core' is still taken, but other logging tools are often used more extensively for formation evaluation.
In very technical jargon, it can be used verbally (e.g., 'to core-barrel a section'), meaning to drill and sample using a core barrel. This is industry-specific and not standard in general English.
This is called a 'core barrel jam' or 'stuck barrel'. It is a serious drilling problem that may require special 'fishing' tools to retrieve the barrel, or can lead to abandoning that section of the borehole.
A cylindrical steel tube used in rotary drilling to collect and retain a continuous column of rock sample (core) from a borehole.
Core barrel is usually highly technical/specialized; confined to geology, mining, drilling, civil engineering, and petroleum industries. in register.
Core barrel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔː ˈbærəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔr ˈbærəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **barrel** (a large cylindrical container) that is designed to collect the innermost, most important part – the **core** – of the ground, like a straw taking a sample from a layered drink.
Conceptual Metaphor
A tool is a body part (extended arm/hand): The core barrel is the 'hand' of the drill rig that reaches down to 'grasp' a piece of the earth.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a core barrel?