barge
n. · v.-
1 a flat-bottomed boat (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea long, flat boat used to carry heavy goods like coal or grain on rivers and canals.
a large, flat-bottomed vessel, either self-propelled or towed, designed for the transport of bulk cargo on inland waterways.
ExampleThe barge moved slowly down the river, carrying a huge load of sand.
ExampleThe industrial canal was once crowded with steel barges transporting raw materials from the coast to the inland factories.
-
2 to enter rudely (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informalto walk into a room or join a conversation in a rude or clumsy way without being invited.
to move or intrude in a forceful, clumsy, or socially insensitive manner; often used with 'in' or 'into'.
ExampleHe didn't even knock; he just barged into the meeting while I was speaking.
ExampleThe protesters attempted to barge through the security cordon, resulting in a brief but chaotic confrontation with the guards.
UsageUsually used as a phrasal verb: 'barge in' or 'barge into'.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 to push someone (v.) C1 Advanced Informalto push someone roughly with your body, especially your shoulder.
to collide with or push someone aside using physical force, typically the shoulder or torso.
ExampleThe player was penalised for trying to barge his opponent off the ball.
ExampleCommuters frequently had to barge their way through the dense crowd to reach the platform before the doors closed.
From Middle English barge, borrowed from Old French barge (“boat”), from Vulgar Latin barga, a variant of Late Latin barca, a regular syncope of Vulgar Latin barica, from Classical Latin bāris, from Ancient Greek βᾶρις (bâris, “Egyptian boat”), from Coptic ⲃⲁⲁⲣⲉ (baare, “small boat”), from Demotic Egyptian br, from Egyptian bꜣjrb-bA-A-y:r*Z1-P1 (“transport ship”). Doublet of bark, barque and baris.