barricade
gb/bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪd/ us/bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪd/
B2
English
barikád, eltorlaszol, elbarikádoz, elbarikádozza magát, akadály, gát
NOUN
B2
1
barikád
B2
Usage pattern:
a barricade across/around [something]
Police put up barricades around the square before the march began.
A rendőrség barikádokat állított fel a tér körül a felvonulás kezdete előtt.
Protesters built a makeshift barricade from trash cans and wooden pallets.
A tüntetők szemeteskukákból és fa raklapokból rögtönzött barikádot építettek.
Fans waited behind metal barricades outside the theater.
Learner examples
The road was closed by a barricade.
Az utat egy barikád zárta el.
Workers removed the barricades after the event.
A dolgozók eltávolították a barikádokat a rendezvény után.
Common mistake:
Do not use barricade for any fence or wall; it usually blocks movement temporarily.
Meaning
temporary blocking barrier
Collocations
put up a barricade
|set up a barricade
|erect a barricade
|build a barricade
|remove a barricade
|police barricade
|metal barricade
|road barricade
|makeshift barricade
|stand behind a barricade
Synonyms
barrier (more general; anything that blocks or separates)
|
roadblock (usually blocks a road, often by police or the military)
|
blockade (larger-scale blocking of access, often for political or military purposes)
Antonyms
opening (a space that allows passage instead of blocking it)
|
access (the ability to enter or pass through)
Themes
public_order
|transport
|safety
|protests
Definition
a temporary wall or barrier that blocks a road, door, or area
A temporary barrier placed or built across a road, entrance, or other passage to stop people, vehicles, or attackers from getting through.
VERB
B2
2
eltorlaszol
B2
elbarikádoz
C1
Usage pattern:
barricade [something] with [something]
The workers barricaded the entrance while repairs were being done.
A munkások eltorlaszolták a bejáratot, amíg a javítás folyt.
Police barricaded several streets around the stadium.
A rendőrség több utcát is eltorlaszolt a stadion körül.
They barricaded the door with tables and chairs.
Learner examples
They barricaded the road after the accident.
A baleset után eltorlaszolták az utat.
We used boxes to barricade the hallway.
Dobozokkal eltorlaszoltuk a folyosót.
Common mistake:
Use a direct object: say "barricade the door," not "barricade to the door."
Meaning
block with barriers
Collocations
barricade a street
|barricade a road
|barricade an entrance
|barricade a door
|barricade a building
|barricade a route
|barricade an area
|barricade with furniture
|barricade off a street
Synonyms
block (more general and common; not necessarily with a physical barrier)
|
seal off (emphasizes preventing entry to an area completely)
|
close off (often used for roads, rooms, or public spaces)
Antonyms
open (make available for passage instead of blocking)
|
unblock (remove whatever is preventing passage)
Themes
public_order
|safety
|transport
|security
Definition
to block a place with a barrier so people or vehicles cannot pass
To block or close a road, entrance, area, or passage by putting barriers across it.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
barricade [oneself/someone] in/inside [place]
The suspect barricaded himself in an apartment for six hours.
A gyanúsított hat órán át elbarikádozta magát egy lakásban.
During the riot, the shop owner barricaded his family inside the back room.
A zavargás alatt a bolttulajdonos a családját a hátsó szobába zárta, és eltorlaszolta a bejáratot.
She heard footsteps outside and quickly barricaded herself in the bedroom.
Learner examples
He barricaded himself in the house.
Elbarikádozta magát a házban.
They barricaded the children inside to keep them safe.
Hogy biztonságban legyenek, bent tartották a gyerekeket, és eltorlaszolták a bejáratot.
Common mistake:
The person inside is the object: say "He barricaded himself in the room."
Meaning
shut oneself inside
Collocations
barricade yourself in
|barricade himself inside
|be barricaded in a room
|be barricaded inside a house
|barricade the family inside
|barricade the door from inside
Synonyms
lock oneself in (does not necessarily involve blocking the entrance with objects)
|
hole up (informal; hide or stay in a place, often to avoid danger)
|
fortify (make a place stronger against attack; more military or formal)
Antonyms
come out (leave the protected or blocked place)
|
let in (allow someone to enter instead of keeping them out)
Themes
security
|danger
|crime
|home
Definition
to stay inside a place and block the door so other people cannot enter
To shut or protect someone, especially yourself, inside a place by blocking the entrance so others cannot get in.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
a barricade between [someone/something] and [someone/something]
The new rules created a barricade between small businesses and the funding they needed.
Az új szabályok akadályt gördítettek a kisvállalkozások elé, hogy hozzájussanak a szükséges finanszírozáshoz.
After years of disappointment, she had built emotional barricades around herself.
Évek csalódásai után érzelmi gátakat emelt maga köré.
The organization tried to break down the social barricades that kept the two communities apart.
Learner examples
Fear can become a barricade between friends.
A félelem akadállyá válhat a barátok között.
The forms were a barricade to getting help.
Az űrlapok akadályt jelentettek a segítséghez jutásban.
Common mistake:
Barrier is much more common for figurative meanings; barricade often sounds stronger or more dramatic.
Meaning
figurative strong barrier
Collocations
emotional barricade
|social barricade
|political barricade
|bureaucratic barricade
|break down a barricade
|create a barricade
|a barricade between people
Synonyms
barrier (more common and neutral in figurative use)
|
obstacle (emphasizes something that makes progress difficult)
|
wall (suggests emotional or social separation)
Antonyms
bridge (something that connects people or groups)
|
opportunity (something that helps progress rather than blocks it)
Themes
communication
|society
|relationships
Definition
something that strongly blocks progress or communication, not a real physical barrier
A powerful obstacle or division that prevents access, progress, trust, or communication.
Grammar
Dictionary form
barricade
IPA
GB/bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪd/
US/bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪd/
Syllables & stress
bar - ri - cade (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bar)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: barricade
- Plural: barricades
Verb
- Base: barricade
- 3rd Person Singular: barricades
- Present Participle: barricading
- Past: barricaded
Expressions
man the barricades
1/mˈæn ðə bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪdz/
idiom
informal
defend a cause
to get ready to fight or protest for something you believe in
Examples
- When the university announced cuts, the faculty union was ready to man the barricades.
- The campaign urged supporters to man the barricades against the new law.
- He talks about manning the barricades, but he rarely shows up to meetings.
Learner examples
- The group manned the barricades to defend their rights.
- People were ready to man the barricades against the plan.
storm the barricades
1/stˈɔɹm ðə bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪdz/
idiom
challenge authority forcefully
to fight strongly against those in power or against the current system
Examples
- The article called on young voters to storm the barricades and demand change.
- Some activists imagined themselves storming the barricades, but the march remained peaceful.
- The speech had the tone of a leader urging people to storm the barricades.
Learner examples
- The activists wanted to storm the barricades and change the law.
- He told voters to storm the barricades.
take to the barricades
1/tˈeɪk tə ðə bˈɛɹɪkˌeɪdz/
idiom
protest forcefully
to protest strongly about something
Examples
- Residents took to the barricades when the city announced plans to close the library.
- The policy change was minor, so few employees were ready to take to the barricades over it.
- Students took to the barricades against the proposed tuition increase.
Learner examples
- People took to the barricades to save the park.
- The workers took to the barricades over pay cuts.