barrage

[buh-rahzh, bar-ahzh, bahr-ij]

noun

1. Military.,  a heavy barrier of artillery fire to protect one's own advancing or retreating troops or to stop the advance of enemy troops.

2. an overwhelming quantity or explosion, as of words, blows, or criticisms.

   a barrage of questions.

   Synonyms: storm, burst, deluge, torrent, volley

3. Civil Engineering.,  an artificial obstruction in a watercourse to increase the depth of the water, facilitate irrigation, etc.

4. Mycology.,  an aversion response of sexually incompatible fungus cultures that are growing in proximity, revealed by a persistent growth gap between them.

verb (used with object)

barraged, barraging 

1. to subject to a barrage.

barrage

/ ˈbærɑːʒ /

noun

1. military the firing of artillery to saturate an area, either to protect against an attack or to support an advance

2. an overwhelming and continuous delivery of something, as words, questions, or punches

3. a usually gated construction, similar to a low dam, across a watercourse, esp one to increase the depth of water to assist navigation or irrigation

4. fencing a heat or series of bouts in a competition

verb

1. (tr) to attack or confront with a barrage

   the speaker was barraged with abuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrage¹

1855–60; < French: blocking, barring off, barrier, equivalent to barr ( er ) to bar ¹ + -age -age; artillery sense by ellipsis from French tir de barrage barrier fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrage¹

C19: from French, from barrer to obstruct; see _bar ¹

Example Sentences

The barrage lasted for 59 minutes and they eventually slipped into a neighbouring building and escaped.

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A particularly heavy barrage floored Yarde and the champion was rightly penalised for the late punch.

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England's pace barrage against Australia on day one of the Ashes series led to former captain Michael Vaughan saying "I would not want to face this attack on this pitch".

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"It has also led to financial loss, reputational damage and a barrage of hate, the like of which we had never experienced before," they said.

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At a Ukrainian power plant repeatedly battered by Russian missile and drone barrages, the staff have a sense of deja vu.

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Related Words

• assault 
• attack 
• blast 
• bombardment 
• burst 
• deluge 
• hail 
• onslaught 
• rain 
• shower 
• storm 
• stream 
• surge 
• torrent