Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
cataphora
cataphoresis
cataplasia
cataplexy
catapult
cataract
catarrh
catarrhine
catastrophe
catastrophe theory
catastrophic
catastrophism
catatonia
catatonic
catawampus
Catawba
catawba
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "catastro..." in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

catastrophe

ca·tas·tro·phe [ kə tástrəfee ] (plural ca·tas·tro·phes)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. disaster: a terrible disaster or accident, especially one that leads to great loss of life

2. total failure: an absolute failure, often in humiliating or embarrassing circumstances

3. theater resolution of plot: the concluding part of the action in a drama, especially a classical tragedy, when the plot is resolved

4. geology violent seismic change: a sudden and violent change in the Earth's crust caused by an earthquake, flood, or any other natural process

5. insurance event causing huge insurance claim: an event causing losses of insured property above a specific monetary limit and affecting a substantial number of policyholders and insurers

[Mid-16th century. Via Latin catastropha< Greek katastrophē "overturning" < katastrephein "overturn" < strephein "turn"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft