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| ca·tas·tro·phe [ kə tástrəfee ] (plural ca·tas·tro·phes) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. disaster: a terrible disaster or accident, especially one that leads to great loss of life
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2. total failure: an absolute failure, often in humiliating or embarrassing circumstances
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3. theater resolution of plot: the concluding part of the action in a drama, especially a classical tragedy, when the plot is resolved
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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
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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
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| [Mid-16th century. Via Latin catastropha< Greek katastrophē "overturning" < katastrephein "overturn" < strephein "turn"] |
