barren

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
barren/ˈbarən/

▶adjective

• 1 (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.

  ■ (of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or seed.

• 2 (of a female animal) unable to bear young.

• 3 bleak and lifeless.

• 4 (barren of) devoid of.

▶noun (barrens) chiefly N. Amer. barren tracts of land.

– derivatives
barrenly adverb,
barrenness noun.

– origin ME: from OFr. barhaine, of unknown origin.