Vietnam
proper noun
- country
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌviːətˈnɑːm/ / /ˌviːətˈnæm/ / /ˌvjɛtˈnɑːm/
name
Etymology: Borrowed from Vietnamese Việt Nam. Extended senses come from the Vietnam War.
- A country in Southeast Asia. Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Capital: Hanoi.
“But as in the case of Japan, the results of self-dealing corruption largely remain in the country rather than escaping to Swiss bank accounts as often happened with the style of 1950s era corruption seen in Vietnam or the Philippines.”
- The Vietnam War.
“David Rabe's anti-Viet Nam play Streamers”
noun
Etymology: Borrowed from Vietnamese Việt Nam. Extended senses come from the Vietnam War.
- A long and protracted war or conflict in which the dominating foreign occupier is unable to secure a victory.
“another Vietnam”
“the Soviet Union's Vietnam (the 1979–89 occupation of Afghanistan)”
- A place that is very dangerous, especially if afflicted by violence.
“Welcome back to Vietnam, California.”
“Vietnam, California, back in and on a mission.”
- A situation in which one cannot win.
“Everyone was miserable, including Coppola. "It was my Vietnam," he moaned a few months later.”
“Judy is the great deceiver / Judy is your Viet Nam”