catastrophe

«catastrophe» in Mova's school dictionary: A sudden terrible event that causes great damage or… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

noun (a catastrophe, catastrophes); adjective catastrophic

meaning for a pupil

1) A sudden terrible event that causes great damage or suffering, like an earthquake or flood. tree →

2) (informal) Something that goes very badly wrong. tree →

sense in the lessons

In geography and history lessons it describes natural disasters and wars; in everyday talk it can be a joking exaggeration ("the cake was a catastrophe"). Phrases: "a natural catastrophe", "end in catastrophe", "avert a catastrophe".

examples

• The flood was a catastrophe for the town. tree →
• Scientists warn that the dam could fail and cause a catastrophe. tree →
• The volcano eruption was a catastrophe for Pompeii. tree →
• Our science fair project was a total catastrophe. tree →
• Quick action prevented a catastrophe. tree →
• Forgetting the tickets would be a catastrophe! tree →
• Such a catastrophe nearly happened to the young Englishman. tree →

note

Pronounced "ka-TAS-truh-fee" with four syllables; the final e is said. Plural: catastrophes. Adjective: catastrophic.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «catastrophe» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.