'Catastrophe' definitions:
Definition of 'catastrophe'
(from WordNet)
noun
An event resulting in great loss and misfortune; "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster" [syn: calamity, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, cataclysm]
noun
A state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster" [syn: catastrophe, disaster]
noun
A sudden violent change in the earth's surface [syn: catastrophe, cataclysm]
Definition of 'Catastrophe'
From: GCIDE
- Catastrophe \Ca*tas"tro*phe\, n. [L. catastropha, Gr. ?, fr. ? to turn up and down, to overturn; kata` down + ? to turn.]
- 1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune. [1913 Webster]
- The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]
- The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. --Woodward. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Geol.) A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'catastrophe'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accident,
- action,
- anagnorisis,
- angle,
- apodosis,
- architectonics,
- architecture,
- argument,
- atmosphere,
- background,
- bad luck,
- bitter end,
- bloodless revolution,
- blow,
- bouleversement,
- breakdown,
- breaking up,
- breakup,
- calamity,
- casualty,
- cataclysm,
- cave,
- cave-in,
- ceasing,
- cessation,
- characterization,
- clean slate,
- clean sweep,
- climax,
- coda,
- collapse,
- collision,
- color,
- completion,
- complication,
- computer revolution,
- conclusion,
- consummation,
- continuity,
- contretemps,
- contrivance,
- convulsion,
- counterrevolution,
- crack of doom,
- crack-up,
- crash,
- culmination,
- curtain,
- curtains,
- death,
- debacle,
- decease,
- denouement,
- design,
- destination,
- destiny,
- development,
- device,
- disaster,
- doom,
- effect,
- end,
- end point,
- end result,
- ending,
- envoi,
- epilogue,
- episode,
- eschatology,
- expiration,
- fable,
- failure,
- falling action,
- fate,
- fiasco,
- final result,
- final solution,
- final twitch,
- final words,
- finale,
- finality,
- finis,
- finish,
- gimmick,
- goal,
- grief,
- ill hap,
- incident,
- izzard,
- last,
- last act,
- last breath,
- last gasp,
- last things,
- last trumpet,
- last words,
- latter end,
- line,
- local color,
- misadventure,
- mischance,
- misfortune,
- mishap,
- mood,
- motif,
- movement,
- mythos,
- nasty blow,
- omega,
- overthrow,
- overturn,
- palace revolution,
- payoff,
- period,
- peripeteia,
- peroration,
- pileup,
- plan,
- plot,
- quietus,
- radical change,
- recognition,
- resolution,
- resting place,
- revolt,
- revolution,
- revolutionary war,
- revulsion,
- rising action,
- scheme,
- secondary plot,
- shipwreck,
- shock,
- slant,
- smash,
- smashup,
- spasm,
- staggering blow,
- stoppage,
- stopping place,
- story,
- striking alteration,
- structure,
- subject,
- subplot,
- subversion,
- swan song,
- sweeping change,
- switch,
- tabula rasa,
- technological revolution,
- term,
- terminal,
- termination,
- terminus,
- thematic development,
- theme,
- tone,
- topic,
- total change,
- total loss,
- tragedy,
- transilience,
- twist,
- upset,
- violent change,
- washout,
- windup,
- wrack,
- wreck,
- Z