catastrophe
pronunciation
How to pronounce catastrophe in British English:
UK [kəˈtæstrəfi]
How to pronounce catastrophe in American English:
US [kəˈtæstrəfi]
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- Noun:
- an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
- a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
- a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
Word Origin
- catastrophe
- catastrophe: see apostrophe
- catastrophe (n.)
- 1530s, "reversal of what is expected" (especially a fatal turning point in a drama), from Latin catastropha, from Greek katastrophe "an overturning; a sudden end," from katastrephein "to overturn, turn down, trample on; to come to an end," from kata "down" (see cata-) + strephein "turn" (see strophe). Extension to "sudden disaster" is first recorded 1748.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Sanctions and protectionist measures are always a catastrophe .
- 2. Who could have predicted the catastrophe like japan ?
- 3. In effect , the funds have been writing catastrophe insurance .
- 4. Can it really save us from climate catastrophe ?
- 5. It would be hard to devise a surer formula for economic catastrophe .