bar|rage

bar|rage «buh RAHZH for n. 1, 2, v.; especially British BAR ahzh for n. 1, 2, v.; BAHR ihj for n. 3), noun, verb, -raged, -rag|ing.

–n.

1. a barrier of artillery fire to check the enemy or to protect one's own soldiers in advancing or retreating.

2. Figurative. a large number of words, blows, or other forms of attack, coming quickly one after the other: »

The reporters kept up a barrage of questions for half an hour.

3. an artificial bar in a river; dam: »

A barrage is going up on the Tigris to divert its flood waters from Baghdad into Wadi Tharthar, a 200-mile depression (Newsweek).

–v.t., v.i.

to fire at with artillery; subject to a barrage.

╂[< French barrage < barrer obstruct < barre bar¹]