debacle: Meaning and Definition of
de•ba•cle
Pronunciation: (dā-bä'kul, -bak'ul, du-), [key]
— n.
- a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: The revolution ended in a debacle.
- a complete collapse or failure.
- a breaking up of ice in a river. Cf. embacle.
- a violent rush of waters or ice.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.