Vocab Bloom Hub

dunkirk

/ˈdʌn.kɜːrk/

Traduction: Nom propre désignant un port maritime du nord de la France, historiquement connu pour l'évacuation massive des forces alliées pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale en 1940, et utilisé par métaphore pour décrire une crise exigeant des efforts désespérés afin d'éviter une défaite.

1 entrée

noun

C1formalcommon/ˈdʌn.kɜːrk/

indénombrable · nom propre

A proper noun referring to a seaport in northern France, historically known for the large-scale evacuation of Allied forces during World War II in 1940, and also used metaphorically to describe a crisis requiring a desperate effort to avoid defeat.

  • 🇫🇷Nom propre désignant un port maritime du nord de la France, historiquement connu pour l'évacuation massive des forces alliées pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale en 1940, et utilisé par métaphore pour décrire une crise exigeant des efforts désespérés afin d'éviter une défaite.
  1. Historical evacuation B2 formal

    A major World War II operation in 1940 where over 330,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, under heavy enemy fire.

    • The Dunkirk evacuation was a pivotal moment in World War II.
    • Over 300,000 troops were rescued from Dunkirk by a fleet of small boats.
    • The operation at Dunkirk demonstrated remarkable civilian courage.

    🇫🇷évacuation de Dunkerque

  2. Desperate crisis C1 formal

    A situation where a desperate effort is the only way to avoid defeat or disaster.

    • The company faced a Dunkirk-like crisis and had to restructure completely.
    • The political campaign was in a Dunkirk situation, needing a last-minute miracle.
    • Their project was at Dunkirk point, requiring all hands on deck.

    🇫🇷Dunkerque (crise désespérée)

    Synonymes: crisisemergencypredicamentquandary

  3. Geographic location B1 formal

    A seaport city in northern France, located on the North Sea coast.

    • Dunkirk is a major port city in the Nord department of France.
    • The city of Dunkirk has a rich maritime history.
    • Ferries from Dunkirk connect to several English ports.

    🇫🇷Dunkerque (ville)

  • dunkirks plural form
  • dunkirks' possessive plural form
  • dunkirk's possessive singular form