Broadside (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. the whole side of a ship above the water line, from the bow to the quarter.
  2. Navy.
    • all the guns that can be fired from one side of a warship.
    • a simultaneous discharge of all the guns on one side of a warship.
  3. any strong or comprehensive attack, as by criticism.
  4. Also called broadsheet.
    • a sheet of paper printed on one or both sides, as for distribution or posting.
    • any printed advertising circular.
  5. any broad surface or side, as of a house.
  6. a song, chiefly in 16th- and 17th-century England, written on a topical subject, printed on broadsides, and sung in public, as on a street corner, by a professional balladeer.
adverb
  1. with the side, especially with the broader side, facing toward a given point or object: The truck hit the fence broadside.
  2. in a wide-ranging manner; at random: to attack the president's policies broadside.
verb (used without object), broad·sid·ed, broad·sid·ing.
  1. to proceed or go broadside.
  2. to fire a broadside or broadsides.
verb (used with object), broad·sid·ed, broad·sid·ing.
  1. to collide with or run into the side of (a vehicle, object, person, etc.): We got broadsided on the freeway.
  2. to make concerted verbal attacks on: The president was broadsided by the opposition.
noun
  1. the entire side of a vessel, from stem to stern and from waterline to rail
  2. navy
    • all the armament fired from one side of a warship
    • the simultaneous discharge of such armament
  3. a strong or abusive verbal or written attack
  4. a ballad or popular song printed on one side of a sheet of paper and sold by hawkers, esp in 16th-century England
  5. any standard size of paper before cutting or folding
  6. another name for broadsheet (def. 1)
  7. a large flat surface
adverb
  1. with a broader side facing an object; sideways
Broadside (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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