definitions

Napoleon I

noun

Napoleon Bonapartethe Little Corporal, 1769–1821, French general born in Corsica: emperor of France 1804–15.

RELATED CONTENT

English Words From The PharaohsMost people recognize Ancient Greek and Latin as the primary donors to the English language. However, some of the most ancient words in English actually trace back to Ancient Egypt.
READ MORE
🇮🇹 Flag for Italy Emoji - Emoji by Dictionary.comRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Definition for napoleon bonaparte (2 of 2)

Bonaparte

[ boh-nuh-pahrt; French baw-na-part ]
/ ˈboʊ nəˌpɑrt; French bɔ naˈpart /

noun

Italian Buonaparte.

Related forms

Bo·na·par·te·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for napoleon bonaparte (1 of 2)

Bonaparte

/ (ˈbəʊnəˌpɑːt, French bɔnapart) /

noun

See Napoleon I
Jérôme (ʒerom), brother of Napoleon I. 1784–1860, king of Westphalia (1807–13)
Joseph (ʒozɛf), brother of Napoleon I. 1768–1844, king of Naples (1806–08) and of Spain (1808–13)
Louis (lwi), brother of Napoleon I. 1778–1846, king of Holland (1806–10)
Lucien (lysjɛ̃), brother of Napoleon I. 1775–1840, prince of Canino

British Dictionary definitions for napoleon bonaparte (2 of 2)

Napoleon I

/ (nəˈpəʊlɪən) /

noun

full name Napoleon Bonaparte. 1769–1821, Emperor of the French (1804–15). He came to power as the result of a coup in 1799 and established an extensive European empire. A brilliant general, he defeated every European coalition against him until, irreparably weakened by the Peninsular War and the Russian campaign (1812), his armies were defeated at Leipzig (1813). He went into exile but escaped and ruled as emperor during the Hundred Days. He was finally defeated at Waterloo (1815). As an administrator, his achievements were of lasting significance and include the Code Napoléon, which remains the basis of French law
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for napoleon bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte

[ (boh-nuh-pahrt) ]

A French general, political leader, and emperor of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Bonaparte rose swiftly through the ranks of army and government during and after the French Revolution and crowned himself emperor in 1804. He conquered much of Europe but lost two-thirds of his army in a disastrous invasion of Russia. After his final loss to Britain and Prussia at the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled to the island of St. Helena in the south Atlantic Ocean.

Note

Napoleon's name is often connected with overreaching military ambition and delusions of grandeur.

Note

Because Napoleon was short, overly aggressive men of short stature are sometimes said to have a “Napoleon complex.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.