Catastrophe

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /kəˈtæs.trÉ™.fi/

Alternative forms

• catastrophë now rare

Origin

From Ancient Greek καταστροφή, from καταστρέφω (katastrephō, "I overturn"), from κατά (kata, "down, against") + στρέφω (strephō, "I turn")

Full definition of catastrophe

Noun

1. Any large and disastrous event of great significance.
2. (insurance) A disaster beyond expectations
3. (narratology) The dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot in a tragedy.
4. (mathematics) A type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states.

Synonyms

• nakba

Derived terms

• catastrophe bond
• catastrophe theory

Related terms

• anastrophe
• apostrophe
• cataclysm