名词

1. 重大灾难;灾祸;横祸
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.

1. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

e.g. the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity
the earthquake was a disaster

Synonym: calamitydisastertragedycataclysm

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

Synonym: cataclysm

3. a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

e.g. lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system
his policies were a disaster

Synonym: disaster