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Glite Dictionary
Battle of the Alamo

Battle of the Alamo

1 4.8
An 1836 fight in Texas when Mexican forces attacked the Alamo and killed the people defending it
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəl əv ði ˈæləmoʊ/
translation icon : Batalla de el Álamo

Examples

  • Jeb, your ignorance of Texas history and the battle of the Alamo is abysmal.

    Blog text (8)

  • During the Texas Revolution in 1836, the defenders valiantly fought in the Battle of the Alamo before being overwhelmed by Mexican forces.

  • The Battle of the Alamo is remembered as a pivotal event in American history, where 189 defenders held out against a much larger Mexican army.

  • Many Texans consider the Battle of the Alamo a symbol of bravery and sacrifice in their struggle for independence.

Synonyms

Alamo
vsBattle of the Alamo
31 7.1

A mission in San Antonio, Texas where defenders fought and died in 1836

refers to the 1836 siege and killing at that mission rather than the building

Surface Forms

Battle of the Alamo singular
Battles of the Alamo plural

Morphology

battle + of + the + Alamo

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'battle' (a large fight) + 'of the' + 'Alamo' (a place name) straightforwardly indicates a battle that took place at the Alamo. A B1 learner who knows the words would infer it denotes a fight/siege at that location (even if they lack the historical details), so the meaning is derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Battle of the Alamo is the name of a real 1836 fight at an old mission called the Alamo near San Antonio. A small group of defenders stayed inside while a much larger army attacked, and their brave last stand is why the name is remembered as 'a famous, heroic fight' today.