Dictionary Home »
Dictionary Definitions » catastrophe
catastrophe
The definition of a catastrophe is a large, often sudden, disaster or ending.
(noun)- The Japan Earthquake of 2011 is an example of a catastrophe.
- The story of Romeo and Juliet is an example of a catastrophe.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.
See catastrophe in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the culminating event of a drama, esp. of a tragedy, by which the plot is resolved; denouement
- a disastrous end, bringing overthrow or ruin
- any great and sudden calamity, disaster, or misfortune
- a total or ignominious failure
- Geol. a sudden, violent change, such as an earthquake
Origin: L catastropha < Gr katastrophē, an overthrowing < katastrephein, to overturn < kata-, down + strephein, to turn: see strophe
Related Forms:
- catastrophic adjective
- catastrophically adverb
See catastrophe in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A great, often sudden calamity.
- A complete failure; a fiasco: The food was cold, the guests quarreled—the whole dinner was a catastrophe.
- The concluding action of a drama, especially a classical tragedy, following the climax and containing a resolution of the plot.
- A sudden violent change in the earth's surface; a cataclysm.
Origin:
Origin: Greek katastrophē, an overturning, ruin, conclusion
Origin: , from katastrephein, to ruin, undo
Origin: : kata-, cata-
Origin: + strephein, to turn; see streb(h)- in Indo-European roots
.Learn more about catastrophe
