Definition

1. Noun:

   • The entire side of a ship above the waterline: The part of a ship's hull from the front (bow) to the back (stern) on one side.
   • The simultaneous firing of all the guns on one side of a warship: A powerful, concentrated naval attack.
   • A strong, forceful, and often public verbal or written attack: A severe criticism or denunciation delivered all at once.
   • A large sheet of paper printed on one side, often used for advertisements or announcements: A poster or public notice, historically used for proclamations or propaganda.

2. Adverb:

   • With the side facing something; sideways on: Positioned so that the side, rather than the front or back, is presented to an impact or direction.

3. Adjective:

   • Directed at or from the side: An attack or impact coming from the side.

4. Verb:

   • To collide with the side of (a vehicle): To hit another vehicle on its side, typically in a T-bone collision.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The pirate ship turned to present its broadside to the enemy.
  • The admiral ordered a full broadside.
  • The politician launched a scathing broadside against the new policy in her speech.
  • The 18th-century broadside advertised a public execution.

• Adverb:

  • The strong wind hit the sailboat broadside, causing it to tilt dangerously.
  • The car was struck broadside at the intersection.

• Adjective:

  • The tanker suffered a broadside collision with a cargo ship.

• Verb:

  • A truck broad-sided my car when I entered the intersection.

Advanced Usage

• "To deliver a broadside": To issue a forceful verbal attack or criticism.
  • The critic delivered a broadside against the artist's latest work.
• "Broadside on": Positioned with the side facing directly toward something.
  • The ship was moored broadside on to the dock.

Variants and Related Words

• Broadside ballad: A historical term for a song or poem printed on a single large sheet (a broadside), often telling a news story or a sensational tale.
• Broadsheet: A large-format newspaper or a single large sheet of printed paper, similar to a broadside.

Synonyms

• Noun (attack): Salvo, volley, tirade, diatribe, denunciation.
• Noun (sheet): Poster, handbill, flyer, circular.
• Adverb: Sideways, side-on, laterally.
• Verb: Side-swipe, T-bone (colloquial).

Related Phrases

• "Rake with a broadside": (Naval warfare) To fire a broadside along the length of an enemy ship, causing maximum damage.
• "Catch something broadside": To be hit on the side by a force (like wind or water).
  • The canoe caught the wave broadside and overturned.

Related Idioms

• "Open up with both barrels": This idiom, meaning to criticize or attack someone very forcefully, is conceptually similar to delivering a verbal .

Adjective

1. toward a full side
   • a broadside attack

Adverb

1. with a side facing an object
   • the train hit the truck broadside
   • the wave caught the canoe broadside and capsized it

Noun

1. the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship
2. the whole side of a vessel from stem to stern
   • the ship was broadside to the dock
3. all of the armament that is fired from one side of a warship
4. a speech of violent denunciation
5. an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution
   • he mailed the circular to all subscribers

Verb

1. collide with the broad side of
   • her car broad-sided mine