debacle

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/deɪˈbɑːk^əl/, /dɪˈbɑːk^əl/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/dəˈbɑkəl, -ˈbækəl/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(dā bä′kəl, -bak′əl, də-)

de•ba•cle n. [countable]

a complete and total disaster, failure, or fiasco:The last meeting was a debacle and nothing was accomplished.

de•ba•cle 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.

French débâcle, derivative of débâcler to unbar, clear, equivalent. to dé- dis-¹ + bâcler to bar Latin baculum stick, rod
1795–1805

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

debacle /deɪˈbɑːk^əl; dɪ-/ n

a sudden disastrous collapse or defeat, esp one involving a disorderly retreat; rout
the breaking up of ice in a river during spring or summer, often causing flooding
a violent rush of water carrying along debris

Etymology: 19th Century: from French débâcle, from Old French desbacler to unbolt, ultimately from Latin baculum rod, staff

'debacle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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