Definition of catastrophes Catastrophes

/kʌtæˈstɹʌfiz/ - [kutastrufeez] -

We found 5 definitions of catastrophes from 2 different sources.

What does catastrophes mean?

Wiktionary

catastrophes (Noun)
Plural of catastrophe.
catastrophes (Noun)
Plural of catastrophë.

Part of speech

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catastrophes, noun, plural of catastrophe.

WordNet

Noun Plural: catastrophes
catastrophe - a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
		cataclysm
		geological phenomenon a natural phenomenon involving the structure or composition of the earth
catastrophe - 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"
		disaster
catastrophe - an event resulting in great loss and misfortune; "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster"
		calamity, disaster, tragedy, cataclysm
		misfortune, bad luck unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
		act of god, force majeure, inevitable accident, unavoidable casualty, vis major a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events; "he discovered that his house was not insured against acts of God"
		apocalypse a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil
		famine a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
		kiss of death something that is ruinous; "if this were known it would be the kiss of death for my political career"
		meltdown a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown; "there is little likelihood of a meltdown comparable to the American banking collapse in March 1933"
		plague an annoyance; "those children are a damn plague"
		visitation an official visit for inspection or supervision; "the commissioner made visitations to all the precinct stations"; "the recent visitation of the bishop to his diocese"
		tidal wave a wave resulting from the periodic flow of the tides that is caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun

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Wiktionary

catastrophe (Noun)
Any large and disastrous event of great significance.
catastrophe (Noun)
A disaster beyond expectations.
catastrophe (Noun)
The dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot in a tragedy.
catastrophe (Noun)
A type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

catastrophe (n.)
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.
catastrophe (n.)
The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.
catastrophe (n.)
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.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

catastrophe
A sudden, widespread disaster or calamity that greatly exceeds the resources of an area or region.
catastrophe
A sudden violent change in the earth's surface.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

catastrophe
kat-as′trō-fē, n. an overturning: a final event: an unfortunate conclusion: a calamity.—adj. Catastroph′ic—ns. Catas′trophism, the theory in geology that accounts for 'breaks in the succession' by the hypothesis of vast catastrophes—world-wide destruction of floras and faunas, and the sudden introduction or creation of new forms of life, after the forces of nature had sunk into repose; Catas′trophist, a holder of the foregoing, as opposed to the uniformitarian theory. [Gr., kata, down, strephein, to turn.]