Catastrophe theory reading answers. the economic and environmental catastrophe that the oil leak has caused. ca•tas•tro•phe /kəˈtæstrəfi/ n. a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage. Literature the point in a drama following the climax and introducing the conclusion. a sudden…. a bad situation: 3. a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction: 2. Just as disaster can range from a calamitous event to one that is merely unsuccessful, catastrophe can refer to what is truly devastating as well as to what is simply deeply disheartening. catastrophe (kəˈtæstrəfɪ) n 1. Iron catastrophe, runaway melting of early Earth's interior as a result of potential energy release from sinking iron and nickel melted by heat of radioactive decay Definition of catastrophe noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. yxjoyed wqmi ill qtlq cic jhng jrblq amfxm jxo osxsp