catastrophe

noun [C]

/kəˈtæs.trə.fi/

Definition

C2 a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction: They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.Accidents and disastersDifficult situations and unpleasant experiencesFailures › a bad situation: The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country.Accidents and disastersDifficult situations and unpleasant experiencesFailures catastrophic

/ˌkæt.əˈstrɒf.ɪk/

/ˌkæt̬.əˈstrɑː.fɪk/ adjective › An unchecked increase in the use of fossil fuels could have catastrophic results for the planet.Accidents and disastersDifficult situations and unpleasant experiencesFailures

(Definition of catastrophe noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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