catastrophe
n 1: an event resulting in great loss and misfortune; "the whole
city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the
earthquake was a disaster" [syn: {calamity}, {disaster},
{tragedy}, {cataclysm}]
2: a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and
misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe
for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster"
[syn: {disaster}]
3: a sudden violent change in the earth's surface [syn: {cataclysm}]