Meaning of debacle in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /deɪˈbɑk(ə)l/

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    UK accent

  1. Noun

    debacle

    Etymology

    early 19th century (in sense ‘the breaking up of ice in a river’): from French débâcle, from débâcler‘unleash’, from dé-‘un-’ + bâcler‘to bar’ (from Latin baculum‘staff’)

    Definitions

    1. a sudden and violent collapse
  2. 2. flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
  3. 3. a sound defeat

    Derived terms

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