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