Verdun

Ver·dun

V0062000 (vər-dŭn′, vĕr-dœn′) A city of northeast France on the Meuse River west of Metz. Dating to Roman times and an important Carolingian commercial center, it was the site of a prolonged World War I battle (February-December 1916) in which French forces repelled a massive German offensive. The total casualties have been estimated at more than 700,000. The city was rebuilt after the war.

Verdun

(French vɛrdœ̃; English ˈvɛədʌn) n1. (Placename) a fortified town in NE France, on the Meuse: scene of the longest and most severe battle (1916) of World War I, in which the French repelled a powerful German offensive. Pop: 19 624 (1999). Ancient name: Verodunum 2. (Historical Terms) Treaty of Verdun an agreement reached in 843 ad by three grandsons of Charlemagne, dividing his empire into an E kingdom (later Germany), a W kingdom (later France), and a middle kingdom (containing what became the Low Countries, Lorraine, Burgundy, and N Italy)

Ver•dun

(vɜrˈdʌn, vɛr-)

n. 1. a city in NE France, on the Meuse River. 26,927. 2. a city in S Quebec, in SE Canada. 60,246.

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Noun

Verdun - a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stoppedbattle of VerdunFirst World War, Great War, War to End War, World War 1, World War I - a war between the allies (Russia, France, British Empire, Italy, United States, Japan, Rumania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria) from 1914 to 1918France, French Republic - a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

Verdun

(vərdŭn`), city (1991 pop. 61,307), S Que., Canada, on the south shore of Montreal island, on the St. Lawrence River. It is a residential suburb of Montreal.

Verdun

(vĕrdŭn`, Fr. vĕrdöN`), town (1990 pop. 23,427), Meuse dept., NE France, in Lorraine, on the Meuse River. A strategic transportation center, Verdun has varied industries and is situated in an agricultural region. The town was a prosperous commercial center in Roman times and also during the Carolingian period in the 800s. An episcopal see since the 4th cent., Verdun, with its surrounding area, was one of the three bishoprics (with Metz and Toul) seized (1552) by Henry II of France from the Holy Roman Empire. The town itself was a free imperial city before it passed to France. The Peace of WestphaliaWestphalia, Peace of,
1648, general settlement ending the Thirty Years War. It marked the end of the Holy Roman Empire as an effective institution and inaugurated the modern European state system.
..... Click the link for more information. (1648), ending the Thirty Years War, confirmed Verdun in French possession. Fortified by Sébastien Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV, Verdun thereafter became important strategically. After 1871 the town became the principal French fortress facing Germany and was surrounded by a ring of defenses. The longest battle of World War I was fought at Verdun in 1916 (see Verdun, battle ofVerdun, battle of,
the longest and one of the bloodiest engagements of World War I. Two million men were engaged. It began on Feb. 21, 1916, when the Germans, commanded by Crown Prince Frederick William, launched a massive offensive against Verdun, an awkward salient in the
..... Click the link for more information. ). In 1918 the Americans and French were victorious in the Verdun sector and at Saint-MihielSaint-Mihiel
, town (1993 est. pop. 5,435), Meuse dept., NE France, in Lorraine, on the Meuse River. Its chief manufactures are eyeglasses, plywood, and copper products. Saint-Mihiel grew around a Benedictine abbey founded in 709.
..... Click the link for more information. . Almost totally destroyed, Verdun was rebuilt after the war. The town and the battlefield of Verdun, with their huge military cemeteries and numerous impressive monuments, form a national sanctuary. Other points of interest are the cathedral (11th–12th cent.) and the town hall (17th cent.), which is now a war museum.

Verdun

site of numerous battles. [Fr. Hist.: EB, X: 395]See: Battle

Verdun

1. a fortified town in NE France, on the Meuse: scene of the longest and most severe battle (1916) of World War I, in which the French repelled a powerful German offensive. Pop.: 19 624 (1999) 2. Treaty of. an agreement reached in 843 ad by three grandsons of Charlemagne, dividing his empire into an E kingdom (later Germany), a W kingdom (later France), and a middle kingdom (containing what became the Low Countries, Lorraine, Burgundy, and N Italy)

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Synonyms for Verdun

noun a battle in World War I (1916)

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