barrage
/ˈbærɑːʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /bəˈrɑːʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbär-ij/ (ame, mw)
barrage — noun
1. a long period of heavy gunfire sent toward enemy positions, often to cover troop
a long period of heavy gunfire sent toward enemy positions, often to cover troops as they move forward
Before sunrise, the army opened a barrage along the hillside.
open a barrage
The soldiers moved forward under a heavy barrage from the fort.
under a barrage
For ten minutes, the barrage shook doors and windows in town.
An artillery barrage cleared the beach before the boats landed.
The medics waited in the tunnel until the barrage finally stopped.
- bombardment
a broad military term for repeated attack with shells or bombs
- shelling
focuses on shells being fired rather than the protective line they form
- cannonade
more literary and less common in everyday English
- ceasefire
focuses on a stop in fighting rather than active gunfire
文法句型
open a barrage
under a barrage
artillery barrage
用法筆記
Usually appears in military writing and often combines with artillery, open, launch, or under. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about words or complaints rather than weapons.
常見錯誤
2. many questions, complaints, or critical comments aimed at one person or group in
many questions, complaints, or critical comments aimed at one person or group in a short time
After the fee change, the bank got a barrage of complaints.
a barrage of + plural noun
Reporters greeted the actor with a barrage of questions.
with a barrage of + noun
By noon, the office had faced a barrage of angry calls.
A barrage of online criticism followed the coach's strange decision.
The mayor answered a barrage of comments at the town hall.
文法句型
a barrage of questions
a barrage of complaints
face a barrage of criticism
用法筆記
Most often appears in the pattern a barrage of + plural noun. Unlike sense 1, it usually describes language, public reaction, or messages rather than physical fire.
常見錯誤
3. a low dam that holds back or redirects river water, often for power, transport,
a low dam that holds back or redirects river water, often for power, transport, or farming
The new barrage keeps seawater out and stores river water inland.
barrage for water control
Engineers checked the barrage after last week's heavy rain.
Fishing boats passed through the barrage at high tide.
The village got cheaper power after the tidal barrage opened.
Farmers downstream worried the barrage would change the water level.
文法句型
build a barrage
tidal barrage
barrage across a river
用法筆記
Common in technical discussion of rivers, coasts, and power projects. Often modified by tidal and used for a built structure, not for a temporary barrier.
常見錯誤
barrage — verb
1. to hit someone or something with a nonstop stream of shots, questions, complaint
to hit someone or something with a nonstop stream of shots, questions, complaints, or similar attacks
After the live debate, reporters barraged the minister with questions.
barrage someone with + noun
Residents barraged city hall with calls about the night noise.
The fort was barraged for hours before the gate fell.
Online shoppers were barraged with pop-up ads all weekend.
Fans barraged the singer's page with demands for a refund.
- spare
suggests choosing not to direct something harmful or unpleasant at someone
文法句型
barrage someone with questions
be barraged with complaints
barrage a place with fire
用法筆記
Very common in passive, especially barraged with or barraged by. The receiver is usually a person, group, or place that suddenly gets many questions, complaints, ads, or attacks.