noun
bivouac
BIHV-oo-ak
Bivouac (noun) means a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two. Example: “The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit.”
noun
1
A temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two.
"The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit."
"They spent a cold night in a makeshift bivouac halfway up the ridge."
verb
1
To camp outdoors for the night without proper tents or shelter.
"The soldiers bivouacked in the open field before dawn."
How to use bivouac
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rough, temporary camp — or the act of setting one up for the night.
Common pairings
set up a bivouac
bivouac for the night
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Word forms
- Plural
- bivouacs
- Third person singular
- bivouacs, bivouacks
- Past tense
- bivouacked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The climbers set up a _____ on the ledge before the final push to the summit.
Etymology
Borrowed from French bivouac, itself from a Swiss-German word meaning an extra night watch kept by a town guard.
Synonyms
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camp
tent
campsite
encampment
campground
encamp
camp out
cantonment
camping site
camping area
camping ground
Related words
Rhymes for bivouac
See all rhymes for bivouac →Frequently asked questions
What does “bivouac” mean?
The word “bivouac” means a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two. In plain terms, a rough, temporary camp — or the act of setting one up for the night.
How do you pronounce “bivouac”?
“Bivouac” is pronounced BIHV-oo-ak (/ˈbɪv.u.æk/ in IPA).
How do you use “bivouac” in a sentence?
Here is “bivouac” used in a sentence: “The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit.”
What part of speech is “bivouac”?
Depending on how it is used, “bivouac” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bivouac” come from?
The word “bivouac” comes from French. Borrowed from French bivouac, itself from a Swiss-German word meaning an extra night watch kept by a town guard.
How many meanings does “bivouac” have?
“Bivouac” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two.
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