barrage

Language: en

🇺🇸 /bɜrˈɑʒ/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area, especially one used to protect advancing troops.; A rapid, continuous outpouring of something, such as questions, criticism, or information.; An artificial barrier or dam across a river or estuary to control water flow or generate power.
  2. verb
    To subject someone or something to a barrage; to bombard with a rapid succession of things.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: barrages 3rd sing.: barrages Past: barraged Past part.: barraged Pres part.: barraging

Collocations

a barrage of questionsa barrage of criticismartillery barragebarrage balloonunder a barragea barrage of abuse

Synonyms

bombardmentvolleyfusilladeonslaughthailstormbattery

Commonly confused

salvo
EN: 'Salvo' refers to a single simultaneous discharge of weapons, while 'barrage' implies a sustained, continuous bombardment.
barage
EN: 'Barage' is a common misspelling; the correct form is 'barrage' with double 'r'.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'barrage' has a double 'r' and ends in '-age' (pronounced /ˈbær.ɑːʒ/), not '-idge'. It is commonly misspelled as 'barage' with only one 'r'.

💬 Examples

  1. The infantry advanced behind a creeping barrage.

  2. The politician faced a barrage of questions from reporters.

  3. The Thames Barrier is a movable barrage designed to prevent flooding in London.

  4. The company was barraged with complaints after the product recall.