n.1 a concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area.
2 a rapid succession of questions or criticisms.
3 an artificial barrier, esp. in a river.
4 a heat or deciding event in fencing, show jumping, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
barrage balloon a large anchored balloon, often with netting suspended from it, used (usu. as one of a series) as a defence against low-flying aircraft.
Etymology: F f. barrer (as BAR(1))