1. a seaport in northern France on the North Sea; scene of the evacuation of British forces in 1940 during World War II • Syn: Dunkirk • Instance Hypernyms: town, port 2. an amphibious evacuation in World War II (1940) when 330,000 Allied troops had to be evacuated from the beaches in northern France in a desperate retreat under enemy fire • Syn: Dunkirk • Regions: France, French Republic • Instance Hypernyms: amphibious operation, evacuation • Part Holonyms: World War II, World War 2, Second World War