ca·tas·tro·phe 
/kəˈtæstrəfi/ noun
plural ca·tas·tro·phes /kəˈtæstrəfi/ noun : a terrible disaster [count] ▪ The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe. ▪ Experts fear a humanitarian catastrophe if food isn't delivered to the refugees soon. ▪ a global/nuclear/economic catastrophe [noncount] ▪ an area on the brink of catastrophe
— cat·a·stroph·ic /ˌkætəˈstrɑ:fɪk/ adjective [more catastrophic; most catastrophic]
▪ The effect of the war on the economy was catastrophic. ▪ a catastrophic drought
/ˌkætəˈstrɑ:fɪk/ adjective [more catastrophic; most catastrophic] ▪ The effect of the war on the economy was catastrophic. ▪ a catastrophic drought
— cat·a·stroph·i·cal·ly /ˌkætəˈstrɑ:fɪkli/ adverb
▪ The dam failed catastrophically, flooding the entire valley.
/ˌkætəˈstrɑ:fɪkli/ adverb ▪ The dam failed catastrophically, flooding the entire valley.
