disaster

/di'zɑ:stə/

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Word: Disaster

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition:

A "disaster" is an event that causes a lot of damage or suffering. It can refer to natural events, like earthquakes or floods, or man-made events, like accidents or failures. When something is called a disaster, it usually means that there were very bad results or consequences.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "disaster" to talk about any situation that goes very wrong. It can refer to both big events (like an earthquake) and smaller situations (like a failed project).

Examples:

1. Natural Disaster: "The hurricane was a disaster for the coastal towns."
2. Personal Disaster: "His car accident was a disaster, but thankfully, he was not hurt."
3. Project Disaster: "The new software launch was a complete disaster due to many bugs."

Advanced Usage:

In more formal or advanced contexts, "disaster" can also refer to broader concepts: - "The economic disaster resulting from the pandemic affected millions." - "The environmental disaster caused by oil spills can take years to recover from."

Word Variants:

• Disastrous (adjective): "The storm had disastrous effects on the region."
• Disastrously (adverb): "The project failed disastrously due to poor planning."

Different Meanings:

1. Personal or Social Disaster: A situation causing personal failure or loss, like a failed relationship or career setback.

   • Example: "His decision to quit his job without another plan was a personal disaster."

2. Metaphorical Use: Sometimes "disaster" is used in a less serious way, to describe something that didn't go as planned but isn't life-threatening.

   • Example: "The dinner party was a disaster when the cake burned, but we laughed it off."

Synonyms:

• Catastrophe
• Calamity
• Tragedy
• Misfortune
• Failure

Idioms:

• "A recipe for disaster": This means a situation that is likely to go wrong.
  • Example: "Trying to fix the car without the right tools is a recipe for disaster."

Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific phrasal verbs that include "disaster," you can use phrases like "turn into a disaster" to describe a situation that goes wrong: - Example: "The party turned into a disaster when the rain started."

Summary:

A "disaster" is any event that causes significant damage or hardship. You can use it in various contexts, from natural events to personal failures.

Academic

Noun

1. an act that has disastrous consequences
2. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
   • the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity
   • the earthquake was a disaster
3. 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

Synonyms

• calamity
• catastrophe
• tragedy
• cataclysm