barrage
[ buh-rahzh; especially British bar-ahzh for 1, 2, 4, 5; bahr-ij for 3 ]
/ bəˈrɑʒ; especially British ˈbær ɑʒ for 1, 2, 4, 5; ˈbɑr ɪdʒ for 3 /
noun
Military. a heavy barrier of artillery fire to protect one's own advancing or retreating troops or to stop the advance of enemy troops.
an overwhelming quantity or explosion, as of words, blows, or criticisms: a barrage of questions.
Civil Engineering. an artificial obstruction in a watercourse to increase the depth of the water, facilitate irrigation, etc.
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), bar·raged, bar·rag·ing.
to subject to a barrage.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for barrage
barrage
/ (ˈbærɑːʒ) /
noun
military the firing of artillery to saturate an area, either to protect against an attack or to support an advance
an overwhelming and continuous delivery of something, as words, questions, or punches
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
fencing a heat or series of bouts in a competition
verb
(tr) to attack or confront with a barragethe speaker was barraged with abuse
Word Origin for barrage
C19: from French, from barrer to obstruct; see bar 1
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