a town in central Belgium where in 1815 Napoleon met his final defeat
"The historical site of Waterloo is located in central Belgium, marking the place where Napoleon faced his ultimate defeat in 1815."
the battle on 18 June 1815 in which Prussian and British forces under Blucher and the Duke of Wellington routed the French forces under Napoleon
"The army suffered a decisive defeat at Waterloo, where Napoleon's troops were completely routed by the combined forces of Britain and Prussia."
Often in the term meet one's Waterloo: a notable and decisive defeat following an encounter with a powerful opponent or a problem that is too difficult.
"After years of struggling with his addiction, he finally met his Waterloo when a single relapse destroyed everything he had built."
In plain English: A complete failure where everything goes wrong and you lose completely.
"The new business venture was our Waterloo after losing all its investors in a single week."
A village in Walloon Brabant, Belgium; the site of a major military battle in 1815.
"The historical significance of Waterloo lies not only in its role as a Belgian village but also in being the decisive battlefield where Napoleon faced his final defeat in 1815."
The word Waterloo comes from Middle Dutch, where it originally meant "sacred wood" or "forest." While the name now primarily refers to the famous 1815 battle, many other locations share this origin because they were once wooded areas.