| English Dictionary |
DEBACLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does debacle mean?
• DEBACLE (noun)
The noun DEBACLE has 3 senses:
1. a sudden and violent collapse
2. flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
3. a sound defeat
Familiarity information: DEBACLE used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A sudden and violent collapse
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
debacle; fiasco
Hypernyms ("debacle" is a kind of...):
collapse (a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Hypernyms ("debacle" is a kind of...):
alluvion; deluge; flood; inundation (the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A sound defeat
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
debacle; drubbing; slaughter; thrashing; trouncing; walloping; whipping
Hypernyms ("debacle" is a kind of...):
defeat; licking (an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest)
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