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Bombard vs Barrage - What's the difference?

bombard | barrage |

As nouns the difference between bombard and barrage

is that bombard is a medieval primitive cannon, used chiefly in sieges for throwing heavy stone balls while barrage is an artificial obstruction, such as a dam, in a river designed to increase its depth or to divert its flow.

As verbs the difference between bombard and barrage

is that bombard is to attack something with bombs, artillery shells or other missiles or projectiles while barrage is to direct a barrage at; to bombard.

bombard

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • a medieval primitive cannon, used chiefly in sieges for throwing heavy stone balls.
  • * Knolles
    • They planted in divers places twelve great bombards , wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses.
  • (obsolete) a bassoon-like medieval instrument
  • (obsolete) a large liquor container made of leather, in the form of a jug or a bottle.
  • * 1610 , , act 2 scene 2
    • yond same black cloud, yond huge one, / looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor.
  • (poetic, rare) A bombardment.
  • (music) A bombardon.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To attack something with bombs, artillery shells or other missiles or projectiles.
  • (figuratively) To attack something or someone by directing objects at them.
  • (physics) To direct at a substance an intense stream of high-energy particles, usually sub-atomic or made of at most a few atoms.

    • Synonyms

    * bomb

    Derived terms

    * bombardier * bombardment * bombard phrase

    barrage

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • an artificial obstruction, such as a dam, in a river designed to increase its depth or to divert its flow
  • a heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of one's own troops to screen and protect them ()
  • a concentrated discharge of projectile weapons
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006, author=
    • , title=Internal Combustion , chapter=1 citation , passage=Blast after blast, fiery outbreak after fiery outbreak, like a flaming barrage from within,
  • (by extension) an overwhelming outburst of words, especially of criticism
  • (fencing) A "next hit wins" contest to determine the winner of a bout in case of a tie.

    • Verb

    (barrag)
  • to direct a barrage at; to bombard

    • Related terms

    * barrage balloon * barrage jamming * rolling barrage ----