Variant: also cause ce · le · bre
Pronunciation: ˌ ko ̇ z-s ə - ' leb, - ' le-br ə , ˌ k ō z-, - ' lebr ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural causes cé · lè · bres also causes celebres \ same \
Etymology: F, literally, celebrated case
Date: 1763
1 : a legal case that excites widespread interest
2 : a notorious person, thing, incident, or episode