Cataclysm

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkætəˌklɪzmÌ©/

Origin

French cataclysme, from Latin cataclysmos, from Ancient Greek κατακλυσμός (kataklysmos, "deluge, flood"), from κατακλύζω (kataklyzo, "to dash over, flood, deluge, inundate"), from κατά (kata, "downwards, towards") + κλύζω (klyzo, "to wash off, to wash away, to dash over").

Full definition of cataclysm

Noun

1. A sudden, violent event.
2. (geology) A sudden and violent change in the earth's crust.
3. A great flood.

Derived terms

• cataclysmic

Related terms

• catastrophe