Word a Day
catastrophe
What does catastrophe mean?
catastrophe (noun): any large and disastrous event of great significance.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use catastrophe in a sentence?
How do you pronounce catastrophe?
/kəˈtæstɹəfi/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does catastrophe come from?
From Ancient Greek καταστροφή (katastrophḗ), from καταστρέφω (katastréphō, “to overturn”), from κατά (katá, “down, against”) + στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of catastrophe?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “catastrophe”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “catastrophe” mean?
any large and disastrous event of great significance
Right! That's what “catastrophe” means.
a paved part of road, usually in a village or a town
Not quite: that's what street means.
a component that is added to something to improve it
Not quite: that's what addition means.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Not quite: that's what award means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “catastrophe”?
research
Not quite: research means something else.
security
Not quite: security means something else.
calamity
Right!
position
Not quite: position means something else.
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