Disaster movies often portray catastrophes that destroy, or at least threaten to destroy earth's entire population.
出自-2013年6月听力原文
柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典释义
N-COUNT
重大灾难;灾祸;横祸
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
例句
From all points of view, war would be a catastrophe...不管从哪方面说,战争都将是场灾难。If the world is to avoid environmental catastrophe, advanced economies must undergo a profound transition.世界若要想避免环境灾难,经济发达的国家必须进行深刻变革。