/beuh rahzh"/ ; esp. Brit. /bar"ahzh/ for 1, 2, 4, 5; /bahr"ij/ for 3 , n. , v. , barraged, barraging .
n.
1. Mil. a heavy barrier of artillery fire to protect one's own advancing or retreating troops or to stop the advance of enemy troops.
2. an overwhelming quantity or explosion, as of words, blows, or criticisms: a barrage of questions.
3. Civ. Engin. an artificial obstruction in a watercourse to increase the depth of the water, facilitate irrigation, etc.
4. Mycol. an aversion response of sexually incompatible fungus cultures that are growing in proximity, revealed by a persistent growth gap between them.
v.t.
5. to subject to a barrage.
[ 1855-60; barr ( er ) to BAR 1 + -age -AGE; artillery sense by ellipsis from F tir de barrage barrier fire ]
Syn. 2. volley, torrent, deluge, burst, storm.