barrage

/ba.ʁaʒ/
1.
nounmasculine

dam (structure that holds back water)

Le barrage a retenu l'eau du fleuve pendant la crue.

The dam held back the river's water during the flood.

2.
nounmasculine

roadblock; checkpoint (e.g., police checkpoint)

La police a installé un barrage sur l'autoroute pour contrôler les voitures.

The police put a checkpoint on the highway to check cars.

3.
nounmasculine

artillery barrage; intense bombardment (a sustained volley of fire)

L'armée ennemie a lancé un barrage avant l'assaut.

The enemy launched an artillery barrage before the assault.

4.
nounmasculine

obstruction or opposition (as in 'faire barrage à' = to block or oppose)

to act as an obstacle to something

Les élus ont fait barrage au projet de réforme.

The elected officials blocked the reform bill.

5.
nounmasculine

playoff match; deciding tie (match to determine qualification)

L'équipe jouera le barrage ce week-end pour tenter de se qualifier.

The team will play the playoff tie this weekend to try to qualify.

6.
nounmasculine

a torrent or onslaught (of words, ads, criticism — e.g., a barrage of insults/ads)

Il a reçu un barrage d'insultes après la vidéo.

He received a barrage of insults after the video.