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

At least 40 people were killed and 300,000 forced to flee their homes as soldiers traded gunfire, fighter jets launched sorties and rocket barrages rained down.

Read more on Barron's

There was also a barrage of abuse from those who called Gkolomeev a cheater.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has also entered a political minefield, inviting a barrage of questions about how the 34-year-old democratic socialist would run America’s largest school district.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But she demanded answers from company officials in a barrage of emails.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He had been struggling with the bat throughout the postseason, and now he was being peppered with a barrage of irritating questions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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