n.
Pronunciation: k ə - ' tas-tr ə -( ˌ )f ē
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek katastroph ē , from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn
Date: 1540
1 : the final event of the dramatic action especially of a tragedy
2 : a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin
3 a : a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth b : a violent usually destructive natural event (as a supernova)
4 : utter failure : FIASCO <the party was a catastrophe >
– cat · a · stroph · ic \ ˌ ka-t ə - ' strä-fik \ adjective
– cat · a · stroph · i · cal · ly \ -fi-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb