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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ca·tas·tro·phe \\kə-ˈtas-trə-(ˌ)fē\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn
DATE 1540
1. the final event of the dramatic action especially of a tragedy2. a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin3. a. a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth b. a violent usually destructive natural event (as a supernova)4. utter failure : fiasco the party was a catastrophe• cat·a·stroph·ic \\ˌka-tə-ˈsträ-fik\\ adjective• cat·a·stroph·i·cal·ly \\-fi-k(ə-)lē\\ adverb
catastrophe
1540, "reversal of what is expected" (especially a fatal turning point in a drama), from Gk. katastrephein "to overturn," from kata "down" + strephein "turn" (see strophe). Extension to "sudden disaster" is first recorded 1748.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishcatastrophe
noun ADJ. absolute, big, complete, great, major, terrible, total | minor | national | global, international, world | ecological, economic, environmental, natural, nuclear VERB + CATASTROPHE cause, lead (sth) to These policies could lead the country to environmental catastrophe. | have We had a few catastrophes with the food for the party. | be faced with, be heading for, face The area is now facing economic catastrophe. | avert, avoid, head off, prevent moves to avert a national catastrophe CATASTROPHE + VERB happen, occur, take place Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 catastropheca·tas·trophe / kE5tAstrEfi / noun1. a sudden event that causes many people to suffer 灾难；灾祸；横祸 SYN disaster : Early warnings of rising water levels prevented another major catastrophe. 提前发出的洪水水位上涨警报防止了又一次的重大灾害。 2. an event that causes six person or a group of people personal suffering, or that makes difficulties 不幸事件；困难: The attempt to expand the business was a catastrophe for the firm. 扩展业务的尝试使这家公司陷入困境。 We've had a few catastrophes with the food for the party. 我们为聚会准备食物时遇到了一些困难。 • cata·stroph·ic / 7kAtE5strCfik; NAmE -5strB:- / SYN disastrous & adj.: catastrophic effects / losses / results 灾难性的影响/损失/结果 (US) a catastrophic illness (= six that costs a very large amount to treat) 要花费巨资治疗的疾病 • cata·stroph·ic·al·ly / -kli / adv.
catastrophe noun
⇨ crisis (a global catastrophe) ⇨ disaster (a catastrophe with the food for the party) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ca·tas·tro·pheI. \kəˈtastrə(ˌ)fē, -aas-, -ais-\ noun( -s) Etymology: Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- cata- + strephein to turn — more at strophe 1. a. : the final action that completes the unraveling of the plot in a play, especially a tragedy : denouement < pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old comedy — Shakespeare > < the need for some element of reconciliation in a tragic catastrophe — A.C.Bradley > b. : a similar action in a novel or story < the novel's catastrophe did not occur until the closing scene >2. : a momentous tragic usually sudden event marked by effects ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin : disaster < the catastrophe of war > < what catastrophe had overwhelmed them — Willa Cather >3. Scotland : broken pieces (as of china) — usually used in plural 4. : a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth — compare catastrophism 1 5. : utter failure : fiasco < monuments, most of them artistic catastrophes — Robert O'Brien >6. : death (as from an inexplicable cause) before, during, or after an operation Synonyms: see disaster II. noun: a violent usually destructive natural event (as a supernova)
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