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catastrophe

Syllabification: (ca·tas·tro·phe)
Pronunciation: /kəˈtastrəfē/

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Definition of catastrophe

noun

  • an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster:a national economic catastrophe leading the world to catastrophe
  • the denouement of a drama, especially a classical tragedy.

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the sense 'denouement'): from Latin catastropha, from Greek katastrophē 'overturning, sudden turn', from kata- 'down' + strophē 'turning' (from strephein 'to turn')

Remember that the end of catastrophe is spelled -ophe.

catastrophe in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of catastrophe in the British & World English dictionary

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