Catastrophe
Catastrophe
Catastrophe (pronounced: /kəˈtastrəfi/) is a term often used in the medical field to describe a sudden and widespread disaster or a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction. The term is derived from the Greek word "katastrophē" which means "overturning."
Etymology
The term "Catastrophe" originates from the Greek word "katastrophē." In Greek, "kata" means "down" and "strophē" means "turning." Hence, the term literally means "an overturning."
Related Terms
- Disaster: A serious disruption occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
- Emergency: A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.
- Crisis: A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger, or a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.
- Trauma: A deeply distressing or disturbing experience, often resulting in physical or psychological injury.
Usage in Medical Field
In the medical field, a catastrophe often refers to a sudden event that causes significant harm to a large number of people, such as a pandemic or a natural disaster. It can also refer to a sudden, severe event in the course of a disease, usually a fatal event.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Catastrophe
- Wikipedia's article - Catastrophe
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski