barrage

dam

noun bah-RAHZH Less Common

Origin: French barrer (to bar)

Also means

barrage, roadblock

Usage Note

Barrage primarily means a dam holding back water, but also describes any physical barrier such as a police roadblock (un barrage de police). In a military or figurative context it means a barrage of fire or questions. The verb barrer means 'to block' or 'to cross out'.

Examples

"Le barrage retient l'eau du lac."

Natural Translation

The dam holds back the lake's water.

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