English Dictionary
Definition of “catastrophe”
catastrophe (kəˈtæstrəfɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune
- the denouement of a play, esp a classical tragedy
- a final decisive event, usually causing a disastrous end
- Also called cataclysmany sudden and violent change in the earth's surface caused by flooding, earthquake, or some other rapid process
Alternative Forms
catastrophic (ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk) adjective ˌcataˈstrophically adverb Word Origin
C16: from Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
disaster,
tragedy,
calamity,
meltdown,
cataclysm,
trouble,
trial,
blow,
failure,
reverse,
misfortune,
devastation,
adversity,
mishap,
affliction,
whammy,
bummer,
mischance,
fiasco,
Translations
- British English:
catastrophe
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.From our point of view, war would be a catastrophe.kəˈtæstrəfɪ NOUN From our point of view, war would be a catastrophe.
- Spanish:
catástrofe
nf
- French:
catastrophe
nf
- German:
Katastrophe
nf
- Chinese: 大灾难 n
- Arabic: نَكْبَة n
- Portuguese: catástrofe nf
- Russian: катастрофа nf
- Croatian: katastrofa nf
- Czech: katastrofa nf
- Danish: katastrofe nutr
- Dutch: catastrofe n
- Finnish: katastrofi n
- Greek: καταστροφή nf
- Italian: catastrofe nf
- Japanese: 大災害 n
- Korean: 대참사 n
- Norwegian: katastrofe nm
- Polish: katastrofa nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: catástrofe nf
- European Spanish:
catástrofe
nf
- Swedish: katastrof nutr
- Thai: ความหายนะ n
- Turkish: felaket n
- Vietnamese: tai họa n
Usage examples
No examples available.
