barrage

[ buh-rahzh; especially British 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)

, bar·raged, bar·rag·ing.

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

But he moved toward them, and all four deputies opened fire, killing him with a barrage of at least a dozen bullets.

From Los Angeles Times

The show played a barrage of congressional Democrats comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler, stressing he is "a threat to Democracy" who could cause "irreversible" damage to the country.

From Salon

It comes after Ukraine has endured a barrage of Russian attacks in recent days.

From BBC

Israel carried out air strikes on Iran in October, targeting military sites in several regions, in response to the barrage of missiles launched by Tehran weeks earlier.

From BBC

Expect plenty of hot takes, including a barrage of think pieces, seeing as, in this telling, the Wizard is an authoritarian leader using scapegoating to prey on — and stoke — people’s fears.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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