caporetto
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Proper noun A significant battle of World War I that took place in 1917 near the town of Caporetto (now Kobarid, Slovenia), resulting in a major defeat for the Italian forces by the combined Austrian and German armies.
Usage
The word "Caporetto" is used primarily as a historical reference to this specific military engagement. It functions as a proper noun naming the battle.
Examples * The historian's lecture focused on the strategic failures that led to the disaster at Caporetto. * Caporetto marked a low point for Italian morale during the war. * Many novels about World War I include chapters describing the retreat after Caporetto.
Advanced Usage
- "a Caporetto": Used metaphorically to describe a sudden, catastrophic defeat or collapse in non-military contexts (e.g., politics, sports, business).
- The election result was a political Caporetto for the ruling party.
- The company's failed product launch was its very own Caporetto.
Variants and Related Words
- Battle of Caporetto: The full, formal name of the engagement.
- Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Another historical designation for the same battle.
Synonyms
- Defeat
- Rout
- Debacle (particularly when used in its metaphorical sense)
Related Phrases
- Post-Caporetto: Referring to the period or situation following the battle.
- The post-Caporetto reforms reshaped the Italian army.
Noun
- battle of World War I (1917); Italians were defeated by the Austrian and German forces