catastrophe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

   lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system

2. 2
   noun

   Any large and disastrous event of great significance.

   The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophe.

3. 3
   noun

   The dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot; the dénouement.

   Pat : he comes like the Cataſtrophe of the old Comedie : my Cue is villanous Melancholly, with a ſighe like Tom o’ Bedlam.

4. 4
   noun

   an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

5. 5
   noun

   a sudden violent change in the earth's surface

6. 6
   noun

   A disaster beyond expectations.

7. 7
   noun

   A type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek καταστροφή (katastrophḗ), from καταστρέφω (katastréphō, “to overturn”), from κατά (katá, “down, against”) + στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).