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View synonyms for

catastrophe

[ kuh-tas-truh-fee ]

noun

  1. a sudden and widespread disaster:

    the catastrophe of war.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  2. any misfortune, mishap, or failure; fiasco:

    The play was so poor our whole evening was a catastrophe.

  3. a final event or conclusion, usually an unfortunate one; a disastrous end:

    the great catastrophe of the Old South at Appomattox.

    Antonyms:

  4. (in a drama) the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion; dénouement. Compare catastasis, epitasis, protasis.
  5. Geology. a sudden, violent disturbance, especially of a part of the surface of the earth; cataclysm.
  6. Also called ca·tas·tro·phe func·tion [k, uh, -, tas, -tr, uh, -fee fuhngk-sh, uh, n]. Mathematics. any of the mathematical functions that describe the discontinuities that are treated in catastrophe theory.


catastrophe

/ kəˈtæstrəfɪ; ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk /

noun

  1. a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune
  2. the denouement of a play, esp a classical tragedy
  3. a final decisive event, usually causing a disastrous end
  4. Also calledcataclysm any sudden and violent change in the earth's surface caused by flooding, earthquake, or some other rapid process
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌٲˈٰDZ󾱳, adverb
  • catastrophic, adjective
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Other yvlog Forms

  • ··ٰDZ· [kat-, uh, -, strof, -ik], ··ٰDZ·· ·ٲ·ٰ·󲹱 adjective
  • ···ٲ·ٰ· noun
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of catastrophe1

First recorded in 1570–80; from Greek 첹ٲٰDZḗ “an overturning,” from 첹ٲٰé𾱲 “to overturn”; equivalent to cata- + strophe
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of catastrophe1

C16: from Greek 첹ٲٰDZŧ, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Our catastrophes used to come at us singly: one earthquake at a time, one flood at a time, one economy-busting drought or recession at a time.

From

"Funds are urgently needed to help families access life-saving humanitarian aid following this catastrophe," he said.

From

"Closing the bakery is a catastrophe because bread is the most important staple for us," said a grandfather, Abu Alaa Jaffar, looking on despairingly.

From

Molvar, of the Western Watersheds Project, said the groups feared an environmental catastrophe.

From

“Simply put,” the officials added, “we are quickly heading toward an environmental and life-threatening catastrophe.”

From

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