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bar·rage 1 (bärĭj)
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n.
An artificial obstruction, such as a dam or irrigation channel, built in a watercourse to increase its depth or to divert its flow.
[French, from barrer, to bar, from barre, bar, from Old French; see BAR1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 
bar·rage 2 (bə-räzh)
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n.
1. A coordinated discharge or bombardment using artillery, missiles, or firearms, especially when directed against an enemy's lines, as to provide cover for advancing troops.
2. An overwhelming, concentrated outpouring, as of words or requests: a barrage of criticism.
tr.v. bar·raged, bar·rag·ing, bar·rag·es
To direct a barrage at.
[French (tir de) barrage, barrier (fire); see BARRAGE1.]
Synonyms: barrage2, bombard, pelt2, pepper
These verbs mean to direct a concentrated outpouring of something at someone: barraged the speaker with questions; bombarded the box office with ticket orders; pelted the clerk with complaints; peppered the senator with protests.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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