barge

noun \ ˈbärj \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of barge

: any of various boats: such as

a : a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used chiefly for the transport of goods on inland waterways and usually propelled by towing

b : a large motorboat supplied to the flag officer of a flagship

c : a roomy pleasure boat; especially : a boat of state elegantly furnished and decorated

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See barge defined for kids

Recent Examples of barge from the Web

The engine of a tugboat pushing six barges in the Mississippi River caught fire near the Poland Avenue Wharf Monday afternoon (May 7), according to the New Orleans Harbor Police and the New Orleans Fire Department.

— marie simoneaux, NOLA.com, "Tugboat catches fire in Mississippi River near Poland Avenue Wharf," 7 May 2018
The two nuclear reactors on the barge can produce up to 70 megawatts of electricity, Rosatom says.

— rachel becker, The Verge, "This nuclear power plant has been called a ‘floating Chernobyl,’ but is that just hype?," 2 May 2018
New investments include four large cutter suction dredges, two large hopper dredges and approximately 50 barges built in shipyards all across the U.S. Vessels are under construction and more capital construction projects will be announced shortly.

— WSJ, "U.S. Dredgers Are Doing What They Should," 1 May 2018
Lay vessels increased 300 percent compared to March 2017, and lay barges increased 350 percent.

— andrea rumbaugh, Houston Chronicle, "More vessels call on Port of Galveston in March," 25 Apr. 2018
For the present two 5000-barrel barges will be used in transporting the crude oil from Long Beach to San Diego.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oil company takes over Chula Vista explosives plant," 6 Apr. 2018
The property, which has been used as a dry dock for repairing barges, is the last vestige of Hoboken’s industrial waterfront.

— patrick mcgeehan, New York Times, "New Jersey Transit Tries Again to Buy Hoboken Waterfront Site," 30 Mar. 2018
The spectacle of the new Theatre Amsterdam – built specifically for this production – rises from flat scrubland, facing an oil terminal and ageing barges that gently rise and fall in the grey water.

— karen bartlett, Newsweek, "Bringing Anne Frank Home - to Germany," 5 Feb. 2015
The San Jacinto Waste pits were used into the 1960s to store waste that was taken by barge from a nearby paper mill.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Clean up of San Jacinto Waste Pits moving forward," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of barge

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin barca

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

barge

verb

Definition of barge

barged; barging

transitive verb

: to carry by barge

intransitive verb

1 : to move ponderously or clumsily

2 : to thrust oneself heedlessly or unceremoniously

barged into the meeting

See barge defined for English-language learners

Examples of barge in a Sentence

He came rushing down the stairs, barging into the crowd of people at the bottom.
She barged through the door without even knocking.

Recent Examples of barge from the Web

Their statement, made at a news conference, came after a rabbi barged into a meeting of legislators to denounce their inaction.

— peter jamison, Washington Post, "Anti-Semitism controversy exposes D.C.’s fault lines — and a leadership vacuum," 6 May 2018
According to Yue’s letter, an instructor barged into her dormitory at 1 a.m. one night, forcing her awake, and demanded any data on her phone and computer regarding the rape case be destroyed.

— lucinda shen, Fortune, "As China Censors MeToo Activists, Ethereum's Blockchain Proves to Be an Unlikely Ally," 25 Apr. 2018
Another Illinois sheriff's report said Reinking barged into a community pool in Tremont last June and jumped into the water wearing a pink woman's coat over his underwear.

— CBS News, "BMW theft solved too late to prevent deadly Waffle House rampage," 24 Apr. 2018
Another report from the sheriff’s office said Reinking barged into a community pool in Tremont, Illinois, last June and jumped into the water wearing a pink woman’s coat over his underwear.

— Fox News, "Nashville schools on 'lock-out' mode as manhunt intensifies for Waffle House shooting suspect," 23 Apr. 2018
Another sheriff’s report said Reinking barged into a community pool in Tremont, Illinois, last June, and jumped into the water wearing a pink woman’s coat over his underwear.

— Washington Post, "Waffle House slaying suspect arrested after massive manhunt," 23 Apr. 2018
Another sheriff’s report said Reinking barged into a community pool in Tremont, Illinois, last June, and jumped into the water wearing a pink woman’s coat over his underwear.

— sheila burke, The Seattle Times, "Waffle House slaying suspect arrested after massive manhunt," 23 Apr. 2018
Another sheriff's report said Reinking barged into a community pool in Tremont, Illinois, last June, and jumped into the water wearing a pink woman's coat over his underwear.

— Bloomberg.com, "Waffle House Slaying Suspect Arrested After Massive Manhunt," 23 Apr. 2018
The pool director told the responding officer that a man in his 20s barged into the pool wearing a pink women's housecoat, the report states.

— doug criss, CNN, "The Waffle House shooting suspect had his guns taken away -- twice," 23 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of barge

1649

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

barge Synonyms

BARGE Defined for English Language Learners

barge

noun

Definition of barge for English Language Learners

: a large boat that has a flat bottom and that is used to carry goods in harbors and on rivers and canals

barge

verb

Definition of barge for English Language Learners

: to move or push in a fast, awkward, and often rude way

BARGE Defined for Kids

barge

noun \ ˈbärj \

Definition of barge for Students

: a broad boat with a flat bottom used chiefly in harbors and on rivers and canals

barge

verb

Definition of barge for Students

barged; barging

: to move or push in a fast and often rude way

He barged through the crowd.

Learn More about barge

See words that rhyme with barge Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for barge Spanish Central: Translation of barge Nglish: Translation of barge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of barge for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barge

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barge

Definition of barge

Recent Examples of barge from the Web

Origin and Etymology of barge

Other Nautical Terms

barge

Definition of barge

Examples of barge in a Sentence

Recent Examples of barge from the Web

First Known Use of barge

barge Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

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BARGE Defined for English Language Learners

barge

Definition of barge for English Language Learners

barge

Definition of barge for English Language Learners

BARGE Defined for Kids

barge

Definition of barge for Students

barge

Definition of barge for Students

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