---
title: catastrophic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «catastrophic» in the school dictionary: Catastrophic means causing terrible damage, harm or suffering; a disaster. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# catastrophic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Catastrophic, flood, catastrophic fire, Losing, first try, My · **What happens:** mean, cause, use, joke, be, destroy · **To what, where:** terrible damage, Catastrophic, forest, map, baking bread, catastrophic damage

<!-- .vabout -->
«catastrophic» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [catastrophic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/catastrophic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Catastrophic means causing terrible damage, harm or suffering; a disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:m1:1
# text = Catastrophic means causing terrible damage, harm or suffering; a disaster.
1	Catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Catastrophic |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | Catastrophic *not said here* | terrible damage and harm or suffering |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition damage=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Catastrophic is also used for something very bad or a total failure, sometimes with a joking tone.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:m2:1
# text = Catastrophic is also used for something very bad or a total failure, sometimes with a joking tone.
1	Catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	failure	failure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	18	advmod	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	amod	_	_
18	tone	tone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Catastrophic |  |  |  | for something | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flood was catastrophic for the town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x1:1
# text = The flood was catastrophic for the town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the flood |  |  |  |  | for the town; catastrophic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A catastrophic fire destroyed the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x2:1
# text = A catastrophic fire destroyed the forest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | a catastrophic fire | the forest |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent forest=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Losing the map would be catastrophic for the explorers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x3:1
# text = Losing the map would be catastrophic for the explorers.
1	Losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund |  | the map |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent map=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | would | Losing |  |  |  |  | for the explorers; catastrophic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My first try at baking bread was catastrophic!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x4:1
# text = My first try at baking bread was catastrophic!
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	try	try	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	baking	baking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | My first try at baking bread |  |  |  |  | catastrophic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** |  | My |  |  | baking bread |  |  | nom try «act transitive»: poss=agent at=place |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists warn that some storms can be catastrophic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x5:1
# text = Scientists warn that some storms can be catastrophic.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	warn	warn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	storms	storm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | can | some storms |  |  |  |  | catastrophic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge suffered catastrophic damage in the earthquake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophic:x6:1
# text = The bridge suffered catastrophic damage in the earthquake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	suffered	suffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	catastrophic	catastrophic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suffer** | past | the bridge | catastrophic damage |  | the earthquake |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer damage=Stimulus |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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