/ dɪˈzɑːstə(r); NAmE -ˈzæs-/ noun
1.
[ C ] an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage
SYN catastrophe :
an air disaster
environmental disasters
Thousands died in the disaster.
a natural disaster (= one that is caused by nature)
2.
[ C , U ] a very bad situation that causes problems :
Losing your job doesn't have to be such a disaster.
Disaster struck when the wheel came off.
financial disaster
Letting her organize the party is a recipe for disaster (= something that is likely to go badly wrong) .
3.
[ C , U ] ( informal ) a complete failure :
As a teacher, he's a disaster.
The play's first night was a total disaster.
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IDIOMS
see wait verb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Italian disastro ill-starred event, from dis- (expressing negation) + astro star (from Latin astrum ).