double bar
Low (technical/domain-specific)Technical/Formal (primarily musical notation), occasionally used in design/sports contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A set of two vertical lines on a musical staff indicating the end of a major section or piece of music.
In a broader sense, it can refer to a symbol or sign marking a definitive endpoint, boundary, or conclusion. In other contexts (e.g., graphic design, sports), it can simply mean two parallel bars.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost always used as a compound noun. In music, it has a specific technical function. The concept of a 'double bar line' is central; 'bar' here refers to the line, not the measure (which is also called a 'bar').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical between dialects, as it is a technical term from standard musical notation. Spelling of related terms (e.g., 'measure' vs 'bar' for the music unit) can differ, but 'double bar' is standard.
Connotations
No difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to musical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Place a double bar [at the end of the movement]The piece ends with a double barVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not over until the final double bar.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, theory, and composition papers/texts.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing music with some technical knowledge.
Technical
Standard term in sheet music, music engraving software, and composition.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You need to double-bar the line at the coda.
- The editor double-barred the final section.
American English
- Double-bar the line at the end of the chorus.
- The composer double-barred the transition.
adverb
British English
- The section ended double-bar.
American English
- The movement concluded double-bar.
adjective
British English
- Look for the double-bar sign.
- It's a double-bar finale.
American English
- The double-bar symbol is clear.
- A double-bar closure is standard.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The song finishes here, at the double bar.
- In your score, please add a double bar at the end of the verse.
- A double bar, often one thick and one thin line, signifies a major structural division in the composition.
- The conductor emphasised that the fermata applied only to the note preceding the final double bar, not to the entire chord.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a finish line in a race—two thick posts. The double bar is the 'finish line' for a section of music.
Conceptual Metaphor
END IS A BARRIER / CONCLUSION IS A DOUBLE GATE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "двойной бар" (заведение). Правильно: "двойная тактовая черта".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a 'repeat sign' (double bar with dots).
- Using 'double bar' to refer to two measures/bars of music instead of the vertical line.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a double bar?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A double bar is a specific symbol (two vertical lines, often with the second thicker) with a defined function. Two single bar lines spaced apart would not be read as a double bar.
Not always. It can mean the end of a major section (like a movement) within a larger work. The very end of a complete piece is marked with a 'final double bar'.
Yes. A double bar with two dots (on the left or right) is a repeat sign, instructing the performer to go back or jump forward. It is a distinct symbol from a simple concluding double bar.
Rarely. It might be used descriptively in design or graphics for two parallel lines, or in sports like gymnastics for the 'uneven bars', but its primary and technical use is in music.