Dictionary

disaster en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [dəˈzäːs.təː] Australia, weak vowel merger
• /dəˈzäːs.təː/ Australia, weak vowel merger
• /dəˈzɐ̞ːs.təː/ Australia, weak vowel merger
• [dəˈzæs.tʰɚ] ~ [dəˈzæs.tʰɹ̩] weak vowel merger
• [dɪˈzɑːs.təː] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [dəˈzɐ̞ːs.təː] Australia, weak vowel merger
• (California) audio
• /dɪˈzas.təː/ (Northern-England)
• /dɪˈzɑːs.təː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈzæs.tɚ/ weak vowel merger
• /dɪˈzæs.tɚ/ weak vowel distinction
• [dɪˈzæs.tʰɚ] ~ [dɪˈzæs.tʰɹ̩] weak vowel distinction

Etymology

From Middle French desastre, from Italian disastro, from dis- + astro (“star”), from Latin astrum (“star”), from Ancient Greek ἄστρον (ástron, “star”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.
   • People would suffer disasters when society's morality degenerates.
   • Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge. 2013 June 29, “High and wet”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 28:
2. (countable, uncountable) An unfortunate or unpleasant occurrence, especially one resulting from an accident or something going wrong.
   • And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir. 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
   • A nod means good, two nods; very good. And then there's the pursing of the lips: disaster. 2003, The Devil Wears Prada:
   • Then Jill came in, And she did grin, To see Jack's paper plaster; Her mother whipt her, Across her knee, For laughing at Jack's disaster. 1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 4:
3. (countable, uncountable) An wholly unsatisfactory result caused by something going wrong or being done poorly; a flop or failure.
   • the cake was a disaster.
4. (countable, uncountable) A skateboard trick involving a 180-degree ollie, landing on the center of the board with the front trucks facing towards the ramp and the back trucks over the lip. The skater then leans forwards to return in the ramp.

Forms

Deriveds

disaster tourist · recipe for disaster · megadisaster · minidisaster · ecodisaster · disasterpiece · disasteroid · blizzaster · disastrophe · disaster tourism · disasterless · nondisaster · predisaster · disaster waiting to happen · postdisaster · disaster film · disaster area · disasterclass · disaster movie · post-disaster · disasterly · natural disaster · disaster flora · disastrous

Hypernyms

occurrence

Hyponyms

avalanche · flood · famine · blizzard · earthquake · natural disaster · cataclysm · drought · tidal wave · hailstorm · mudslide · eruption · rockslide · epidemic · seaquake · tornado · doomsday event · tsunami

Relateds

mishap · disastrously · dumpster fire · misfortune · mischance · accident · misadventure · tire fire · disastrous

Synonyms

apocalypse · catastrophe · woe · adversity · misery · disaster · qualm · calamity

Translations (236)

be няшча́сце (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nl catastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sw afa (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ro flagel (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uz ofat (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ug بەختسىزلىك (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · bn বিপর্যয় (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sh nèsreća (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cs katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ko 재앙 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · be бяда́ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · be катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · la calamitās (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hy արհավիրք (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · hu katasztrófa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · si ව්යසන (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · lt katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ota غول (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uk ли́хо (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mn сүйрэл (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sh катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · gd creach (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · it disastro (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · kk апат (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ltg vuorgi (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ug پالاكەت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ro catastrofă (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nn katastrofe (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ps فاجعه (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · bg катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · yue 災害 /灾害 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · de Katastrophe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · yue 災難 /灾难 (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · fr catastrophe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fo vanlukka (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sh katastrófa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ca desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · be бе́дства (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · eo katastrofo (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · sc disastru (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · he אָסוֹן (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · zdj kafa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mk катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · la clādēs (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · da katastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sk katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cmn 災難 /灾难 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · km ភយូបទ្រព (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ug ھالاكەت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mi aituā (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cmn 災禍 /灾祸 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · id bencana (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ru беда́ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tr facia (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · gd creach (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · grc καταστροφή (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · fa آفَت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uk катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sq fatkeqësi (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · dsb dezaster (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · bg бе́дствие (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · bg злополу́ка (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · pdt Onjlekj (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ur مُصِیبَت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · bn আফত (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sc istruéndu (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · vi tai hoạ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · et õnnetus (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nb miljøkatastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ast farrasplada (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tr felaket (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sdn scullóppiu (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · az faciə (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sc rughína (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sl katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ka კატასტროფა (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sdc disasthru (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mi inati (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nn katastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sv olycka (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ne प्रकोप (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ckb لێقەومان (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ps مصيبت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · et katastroof (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nl onheil (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sdn scullóppiu (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uk го́ре (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ko 재난 (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · tg офат (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tg фалокат (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · da katastrofe (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · id musibah (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · yue 災禍 /灾祸 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sc rughína (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ro calamitate (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cmn 災害 /灾害 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · es desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ceb katalagman (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cmn 災難 /灾难 (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · bg бе́дствие (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sw afa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ru катастро́фа (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · oc desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hy դժբախտություն (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ja 災害 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ja 災難 (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · nb katastrofe (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · lv nelaime (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · de Unheil (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ml ദുരന്തം (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ga anachain (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · lv posts (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ro dezastru (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ko 재난 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · de Desaster (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · fi katastrofi (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · hi आपदा (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ga tubaiste (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · kmr karesat (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ms bencana (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ht dezas (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ar كَارِثَة (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ro dezastru (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · sw janga (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · az fəlakət (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ru несча́стье (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · az fəlakət (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sh нѐсрећа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · eo malfeliĉego (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fr désastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ka უბედურება (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fi onnettomuus (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ur تَباہی (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · la perniciēs (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ko 재해 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hu katasztrófa (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · de Desaster (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · lb Katastroph (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · da ulykke (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uk біда́ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · la clādēs (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ota غول (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · km ភយន្តរាយ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · it disastro (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tg мусибат (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cs neštěstí (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ota فاجعه (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · pl katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ro nenorocire (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · is hamfarir (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · kmr felaket (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cy trychineb (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ru бе́дствие (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ru катастро́фа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tg фоҷиа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · km មហន្តរាយ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ota فاجعه (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hi मुसीबत (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ja 惨事 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mwl zastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tr afet (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ar مُصِيبَة (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · el καταστροφή (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ps آفت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · pl bieda (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cy trychineb (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · pt desastre (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · kk зілзала (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fa فاجِعِه (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hy պատուհաս (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · ast desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mn гамшиг (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · pl nieszczęście (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · de Unglück (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ky апаат (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sk nešťastie (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ko 참사 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · my ဘေးဆိုး (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sv katastrof (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · nn miljøkatastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uz falokat (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ja 天災 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ru го́ре (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ar آفَة (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hy աղետ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · cs pohroma (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sk pohroma (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hi आफ़त (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nl ramp (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · bn দুর্যোগ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tg бадбахтӣ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fa فَلاکَت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · vi thảm hoạ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · pl katastrofa (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · uk неща́стя (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fi katastrofi (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fa مُصیبَت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ur آفَت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · is katastrófa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · el καταστροφή (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · he אָסוֹן (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · tg фоҷеа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ht katastwòf (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ru бе́дствие (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · yue 災難 /灾难 (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ug ئاپەت (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fi onnettomuus (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · be го́ра (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sc istruéndu (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · grc καταστροφή (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · lt nelaimė (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · gl desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · hi तबाही (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sw janga (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sc disastru (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nl ramp (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · sdc disasthru (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · id malapetaka (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ml ദുരന്തം (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · pt desastre (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ky кырсык (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · th ภัยพิบัติ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uz baxtsizlik (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · kmr mûsîbet (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mk несреќа (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · km ហាយនៈ (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · uz musibat (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · tt афәт (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · fr désastre (unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.) · sq katastrofë (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · nb katastrofe (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · sv katastrof (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · ja 災い (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · is hörmung (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · mn аюул (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.) · lv katastrofa (unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.)