cataclysm
nounmasculine/kɐtɐˈkliʒmu/low
ca·ta·clis·mo
Definition
A large-scale and violent event in the natural world; a great disaster.
The asteroid impact caused a global cataclysm.
The war was a political and social cataclysm.
Common collocations
natural cataclysmgeological cataclysmglobal cataclysmgreat cataclysm
Etymology
Do grego 'kataklysmos', de 'kata-' (para baixo) + 'klyzein' (lavar).