Barricades are physical barriers that are used to prevent or control access to a particular area. They are often used in situations where there is a risk of danger or where there is a need to control the movement of people or vehicles. Barricades can be made of a variety of materials, including metal, wood, concrete, and plastic.
Definitions
The term barricade is defined as a barrier that is erected to block the passage of people or vehicles. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including crowd control, security, and safety. Barricades can be temporary or permanent, and they can be used in a variety of settings, including construction sites, public events, and protests.
Origin
The word barricade comes from the French word “barrique,” which means barrel. During the French Revolution, barrels were often used to create makeshift barriers in the streets to prevent the movement of troops and to protect the revolutionaries. The use of barricades became a common tactic in uprisings and protests throughout Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Oxford English Dictionary, barricade is defined as “a barrier, often hastily constructed, to block the passage of an enemy or to protect a position.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a temporary wall, fence, or similar structure that is built to prevent people from entering a place or area.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a temporary structure that is used to block a road, entrance, or other passage, especially as a protest.”
Associations
Barricades are often associated with protests and civil unrest. They can be used to prevent the movement of police or other authorities, and they can be a symbol of resistance against a government or other authority. In addition, barricades are often used in emergency situations, such as natural disasters, to prevent access to dangerous areas.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of barricades include barrier, blockade, obstruction, fence, wall, and fortification.
Antonyms
Some antonyms of barricades include access, entrance, opening, and passage.
The same root words
The word barricade comes from the French word “barrique,” which means barrel. Other words that share this root include barrel, barrique, and barriqueage.
Example Sentences
- The police erected barricades around the protest site to prevent the protesters from entering.
- The construction site was surrounded by barricades to prevent accidents.
- The revolutionaries built barricades in the streets to prevent the movement of troops.
- The emergency services used barricades to prevent access to the area affected by the natural disaster.