coup

CEFRB2

/kuː/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A sudden and illegal attempt to take control of a government.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A coup d'état.

Examples

  • He seized power in a military coup in 2008.

  • The coup attempt was foiled at the last moment.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Of Native Americans, a blow against an enemy delivered in a way that demonstrates bravery.

  2. A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act.

  3. A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal in rouge et noir.

More examples

In context

  • We only have secondhand information of the coup.

  • While the price was considered a coup for Morgan, enhancing his reputation on Wall Street, Carnegie had a different explanation for his selling price.

  • The conference was a major coup for Robarts, who received congratulations for his 'expert handling' of the 'risky venture.'

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The general led a military blank to overthrow the president yesterday.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Reborrowed in modern times from modern French coup (“blow, strike”), from Old French coup, colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus. Doublet of cope and colpus. The same Old French word had been borrowed into Middle English as coupe, caupe (with different pronunciation).