disaster

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♦ dis|as|ter /dɪz'ɑːstər, -z'æs-/ (disasters)
1 [N-COUNT]
A disaster is a very bad accident such as an earthquake or a plane crash, especially one in which a lot of people are killed.
It was the second air disaster in the region in less than two months...
= tragedy
2 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to something as a disaster, you are emphasizing that you think it is extremely bad or unacceptable.
The whole production was just a disaster!
= catastrophe
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Disaster is something which has very bad consequences for you.
The government brought itself to the brink of fiscal disaster...
= catastrophe
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that something is a recipe for disaster, you mean that it is very likely to have unpleasant consequences.dis|as|ter area (disaster areas)
1 [N-COUNT]
A disaster area is a part of a country or the world which has been very seriously affected by a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood.
The region has been declared a disaster area.
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you describe a place, person, or situation as a disaster area, you mean that they are in a state of great disorder or failure. (INFORMAL)
He's a nice old rascal but a disaster area as a politician.

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