barricade

[bar-i-keyd, bar-i-keyd]

noun

1. a defensive barrier hastily constructed, as in a street, to stop an enemy.

2. any barrier that obstructs passage.

verb (used with object)

barricaded, barricading 

1. to obstruct or block with a barricade.

   barricading the streets to prevent an attack.

2. to shut in and defend with or as if with a barricade.

   The rebels had barricaded themselves in the old city.

   Synonyms: fortify

barricade

/ ˈbærɪˌkeɪd, ˌbærɪˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a barrier for defence, esp one erected hastily, as during street fighting

verb

1. to erect a barricade across (an entrance, passageway, etc) or at points of access to (a room, district of a town, etc)

   they barricaded the door

2. (usually passive) to obstruct; block

   his mind was barricaded against new ideas

Other Word Forms

• barricader noun
• unbarricade verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of barricade¹

1585–95; < French, equivalent to barrique barrel (< Gascon ) + -ade -ade ¹; early barricades in Paris were often composed of barrels

Word History and Origins

Origin of barricade¹

C17: from Old French, from barriquer to barricade, from barrique a barrel, from Spanish barrica , from barril _barrel

Synonym Study

See bar ¹.

Example Sentences

Manousos has barricaded himself inside the storage facility he manages, refusing to interact with anyone, even Carol, whose phone calls he refuses.

Read more on Salon

The self-proclaimed “Troll Most Hated” was seen in video jumping over the fan barricade onto the other side of the carpet.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

An Australian man who jumped over a barricade and grabbed Hollywood star Ariana Grande has been deported and banned from Singapore.

Read more on BBC

A man who grabbed Ariana Grande after jumping a barricade at the Singapore premiere of “Wicked: For Good” has been charged with being a public nuisance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He then made a second attempt to jump the barricades.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• barrier 
• blockade 
• fence 
• rampart 
• roadblock 
• wall