Definition

1. Noun:

   • A building or group of buildings for lodging soldiers: A permanent or temporary structure used to house military personnel.
   • (Often in plural, 'barracks'): The buildings collectively forming such a military living quarters.

2. Verb:

   • To house soldiers in barracks: To provide or assign lodging in such buildings.
   • To shout loudly in protest or mockery; to jeer: To deride or criticize someone noisily and publicly, often in a group.
   • To cheer or encourage loudly: To shout support or encouragement, often in a boisterous manner. (This meaning is chiefly British, Australian, and New Zealand usage).

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The new recruits were assigned to the old wooden barrack near the parade ground.
  • The army barracks were located on the outskirts of the town.

• Verb (to house):

  • The regiment was barracked in the city during the winter months.

• Verb (to jeer/shout derisively):

  • Opposing fans began to barrack the goalkeeper after he missed an easy save.
  • The speaker was barracked by a section of the crowd.

• Verb (to cheer/encourage - chiefly UK/AU/NZ):

  • The home crowd barracked their team tirelessly throughout the match.

Advanced Usage

• "to barrack for" (verb phrase): To shout encouragement for a team or contestant; to support vocally. (Primarily Australian and New Zealand English).
  • He always barracks for the underdog in any competition.

Variants and Related Words

• Barracks (n, pl): The more common plural form referring to the buildings or living quarters.
• Barracking (n, gerund): The act of shouting derisively or, in some contexts, cheering.
  • The constant barracking from the sidelines unnerved the player.

Synonyms

• Noun (building): Quarters, billet, garrison, encampment.
• Verb (jeer): Jeer, taunt, heckle, ridicule, scoff at.
• Verb (cheer): Cheer, root for, encourage, support. (Regional)

Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases

• Barrack for: As noted in Advanced Usage, this is a set phrase meaning to support a team or player with shouts.

Related Idioms

• No specific common idioms center solely on the word 'barrack'. However, the act of barracking is often associated with sporting or political events where crowd behavior is intense.

Noun

1. a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel

Verb

1. laugh at with contempt and derision
   • The crowd jeered at the speaker
2. spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
   • The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
3. lodge in barracks