catastrophe

英 [kə'tæstrəfɪ] 美[kə'tæstrəfi]

• n. 大灾难；大祸；惨败

1. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune;

"the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"

"the earthquake was a disaster"

2. 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"

3. a sudden violent change in the earth's surface