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disaster
The definition of a disaster is an event, often sudden, that causes great damage or devastation.
(noun)An example of disaster is a tsunami.
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See disaster in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
any happening that causes great harm or damage; serious or sudden misfortune; calamity
Origin: OFr desastre < It disastro < L dis- + astrum < Gr astron (see astral), star: from astrological notions: cf. ill-starred
See disaster in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe.b. A grave misfortune.
- Informal A total failure: The dinner party was a disaster.
- Obsolete An evil influence of a star or planet.
Origin:
Origin: French désastre
Origin: , from Italian disastro
Origin: : dis-, pejorative pref. (from Latin dis-; see dis- )
Origin: + astro, star (from Latin astrum, from Greek astron; see ster-3 in Indo-European roots)
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