a catastrophe
The earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed the entire city.
这场地震是一场摧毁整座城市的大灾难。
绝境；毁灭；不幸的境地；（戏剧或故事的）结局；收场；（地球表面的）灾变；剧变；突变；突变现象；任何规模巨大且影响深远的灾难性事件。
A large and disastrous event of great significance, often causing great loss or misfortune.
任何规模巨大且影响深远的灾难性事件。
Any large and disastrous event of great significance.
造成巨大损失和不幸的事件
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
超出预期的灾难。
A disaster beyond expectations.
极度(通常无法挽回的)毁灭和不幸的状态
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
引发情节解决的戏剧性事件；结局。
The dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot; the dénouement.
地球表面的突然剧烈变化
a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
一种分岔类型,系统在两个稳定状态之间转变。
A type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states.
The earthquake was a catastrophe that left thousands homeless.
这场地震是一场大灾难，导致数千人无家可归。
用法提示：catastrophe用作可数名词，表示‘大灾难’，指地震等造成的巨大破坏。
AI contextual example
If the dam breaks, it will be a catastrophe for the entire valley.
如果大坝决堤，对整个山谷来说将是一场浩劫。
用法提示：catastrophe用作名词，强调如果发生将带来的严重灾难性后果。
AI contextual example
The project failed, but it wasn't the catastrophe everyone had feared.
项目失败了，但并没有大家担心的那么糟糕。
用法提示：catastrophe用作名词，指人们所担心的严重灾难，但实际程度较轻。
AI contextual example
The earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed the entire city.
这场地震是一场摧毁整座城市的大灾难。
The heavy rain was a catastrophe for the crops.
这场大雨对庄稼来说是一场灾难。
When catastrophe strikes, people must come together to help.
当灾难降临时，人们必须团结起来互相帮助。
较常用，程度稍弱于catastrophe
强调悲痛和严重后果
侧重于悲情，常指人为的损失
强调突然剧烈变化，如洪水、地震
常指计划或行动的完全失败
grammar · medium
易错句子It was a catastrophe event.
正确表达It was a catastrophic event.
错误：将名词'catastrophe'误用作形容词。正确用法是使用其形容词形式'catastrophic'来修饰名词'event'。
grammar · medium
易错句子The earthquake caused catastrophe.
正确表达The earthquake caused a catastrophe.
错误：'catastrophe'是可数名词，在表示具体灾难时需加不定冠词'a'或'an'。
与“大灾难”相反，指带来好运或幸福的事物
与“造成巨大损失和不幸的事件”相对，指取得积极结果
disaster 更常用，指造成损失或破坏的事件，但不一定像 catastrophe 那样强调毁灭性或突然性。
calamity 强调带来深重痛苦和不幸的事件，语气比 disaster 更强，但比 catastrophe 略微正式。
cataclysm 通常指剧烈的、突然的变化或灾难，尤指自然或社会的大变动，比 catastrophe 更强调巨大变化。
自然灾难
The earthquake was the worst natural catastrophe in the region's history.
这场地震是该地区历史上最严重的自然灾难。
灾难降临
When catastrophe strikes, the community must come together to rebuild.
当灾难降临时，社区必须团结起来重建。
避免灾难
Quick action by the firefighters averted a catastrophe.
消防员的迅速行动避免了一场灾难。
对……的灾难
The closure of the factory was a catastrophe for the local economy.
工厂关闭对当地经济是一场灾难。
灾害与灾难
The report examines the difference between a disaster and a catastrophe.
这份报告探讨了灾害与灾难的区别。
迟早要发生的灾难
With all those gas tanks, the site was a catastrophe waiting to happen.
有那么多煤气罐，那个地方简直是迟早要发生的灾难。
cata- (向下) + strophe (转折)
cata- (向下) + clysm (冲刷)
apo- (离开) + strophe (转折)
即将发生的灾难
With all these exposed wires, it's a catastrophe waiting to happen.
这么多裸露的电线，真是灾难即将发生。
导致灾难的配方
Leaving the campfire unattended is a recipe for catastrophe.
让营火无人看管是导致灾难的做法。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.