Standard Lemma guide

fusillade

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈfjuːsɪˌleɪd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪd
  • CMU ARPABET: F Y UW1 S IH0 L EY2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The simultaneous firing of a number of firearms.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A rapid burst.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To fire, or attack with, a fusillade.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: salvo, volley, burst

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fire, firing

5

verb

Meaning 5

attack with fusillade

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fire, discharge

History

Etymology

From French fusillade, from fusiller (“shoot with a firearm”), from fusil (“rifle, gun”).

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: залп (zalp) — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Esperanto: pafado — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • French: fusillade — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • German: Gewehrfeuer — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • German: Geschützsalve — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • German: Schusswechsel — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • German: Salve — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Hungarian: sortűz — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Irish: rúisc — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Māori: waipū — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Māori: waiwaipū — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Polish: salwa — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Russian: стрельба́ (strelʹbá) — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Spanish: descarga — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Spanish: ráfaga — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Turkish: yaylım ateşi — the simultaneous firing of a number of firearms
  • Spanish: ráfaga — a rapid outburst
  • Spanish: torrente — a rapid outburst