word-vault

{ "term": "disaster", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage", "sensetop": "in a disaster", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "the world's worst humanitarian disaster" }, { "text": "an environmental/ecological disaster" }, { "text": "a rail/mining/tsunami disaster" }, { "text": "Thousands died in the disaster.", "contextForm": "in a disaster" }, { "text": "They provided more than $2.3 billion in **disaster relief**." }, { "text": "It was taking years for disaster victims to settle and rebuild." }, { "text": "Given the threat of earthquake, we recognized the need for **disaster recovery** centres." }, { "text": "Europe's worst environmental disaster is unfolding at this very moment." }, { "text": "He called for a full investigation to help prevent future disasters." }, { "text": "In a disaster everyone needs to keep calm." }, { "text": "In the aftermath of the disaster people were too shocked to give a clear picture of what had happened." }, { "text": "It was a miracle any of the passengers or crew survived the disaster." }, { "text": "No government could have handled a disaster of this magnitude effectively." }, { "text": "the need for a disaster management plan" }, { "text": "The disaster relief operation will continue over the summer." }, { "text": "The majority of enterprises aren't spending very much on disaster recovery at all." }, { "text": "They had no real experience in disaster management." }, { "text": "This morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state." }, { "text": "We have a disaster plan in place before every mission." }, { "text": "Will we ever find out why the disaster occurred?" }, { "text": "a Hollywood disaster movie" }, { "text": "an organization which provides help for the victims of the disaster" }, { "text": "attempts to find out what caused the disaster" }, { "text": "communities affected by disasters" }, { "text": "counties eligible for federal disaster assistance" }, { "text": "fears of a nuclear disaster" }, { "text": "finding out why the disaster occurred" }, { "text": "providing help for the victims of the disaster" }, { "text": "the biggest disaster in British mining history" }, { "text": "the governor's disaster fund" }, { "text": "the planning and implementation of disaster preparedness" }, { "text": "the unfolding storm disaster in the South" }, { "text": "Such environmental disasters will become increasingly frequent." }, { "text": "They were involved in the 2001 ferry disaster." }, { "text": "a near disaster in the city centre" }, { "text": "Although there was always the possibility of flooding, the Nile seldom brought disaster to Egypt." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["awful", "big", "catastrophic"], "verb + disaster": ["bring", "cause", "create"], "disaster + verb": ["happen", "occur", "strike"], "disaster + noun": ["area", "scene", "site"], "preposition": ["in a/the disaster"], "phrases": [ "a disaster waiting to happen", "in the aftermath of a disaster", "a recipe for disaster" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a very bad situation that causes problems", "sensetop": "disaster for somebody", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Losing your job doesn't have to be such a disaster." }, { "text": "**Disaster struck** when the wheel came off." }, { "text": "Archie has to act quickly to avert disaster." }, { "text": "They could think of no way to avoid the impending disaster." }, { "text": "Many business partnerships end in disaster." }, { "text": "The discovery of the disease among sheep **spells** financial **disaster** for farmers.", "contextForm": "disaster for somebody" }, { "text": "Letting her organize the party is a **recipe for disaster** *(= something that is likely to go badly wrong)*." }, { "text": "Buying that house turned out to be a financial disaster." }, { "text": "The festival ended up being a financial disaster for the promoters." }, { "text": "Everyone had the feeling that disaster was imminent." }, { "text": "Everything was going fine. Then, without warning, disaster struck." }, { "text": "High-rise buildings proved a social disaster." }, { "text": "His prediction was not heeded, and disaster ensued." }, { "text": "In the last match of the series England were facing disaster." }, { "text": "Independent analysts in the market predicted disaster." }, { "text": "It could become a financial disaster scenario." }, { "text": "It seemed that nothing could prevent the impending disaster." }, { "text": "It would spell certain economic disaster for our local community." }, { "text": "Just one mistake can mean disaster." }, { "text": "It's courting disaster to go into the mountains without proper weatherproof clothing." }, { "text": "One person's mistakes can bring disaster to someone else." }, { "text": "The drought spelled economic disaster for the country." }, { "text": "The festival ended up being a financial disaster for the promoters." }, { "text": "The show ended in disaster when the tent collapsed." }, { "text": "Their departure spells social disaster for the region." }, { "text": "There are many who have suffered personal disasters but managed to rebuild their lives." }, { "text": "We could all see that disaster loomed for the company." }, { "text": "his firm belief that the whole world was heading for disaster" }, { "text": "the greatest electoral disaster of the century" }, { "text": "the unforeseen disaster that has just been thrust upon us" }, { "text": "What can be done to ward off environmental disaster?" }, { "text": "A disaster recovery plan allows a business to continue as usual in the event of system failures." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["awful", "big", "catastrophic"], "verb + disaster": ["bring", "cause", "create"], "disaster + verb": ["happen", "occur", "strike"], "disaster + noun": ["area", "scene", "site"], "preposition": ["in a/the disaster"], "phrases": [ "a disaster waiting to happen", "in the aftermath of a disaster", "a recipe for disaster" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "a complete failure", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "As a teacher, he's a disaster." }, { "text": "The play's first night was a total disaster." }, { "text": "a complete/total/absolute/unmitigated disaster" }, { "text": "I am a walking disaster when it comes to paperwork." }, { "text": "He could already foresee the night turning into a total disaster." }, { "text": "The play was a complete disaster from beginning to end." }, { "text": "The shirt was a definite fashion disaster." }, { "text": "She was a competent accountant, but as a manager she's a disaster." } ], "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["absolute", "complete", "real"], "verb + disaster": ["prove", "turn out to be", "become"], "preposition": ["a disaster for somebody/something"] } }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave", "examples": [ { "text": "Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen." } ], "topics": ["Danger"] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈzɑːstə(r)/", "audio": "di/disaster/disaster__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/dɪˈzæstər/", "audio": "di/disaster/disaster__us_4.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "late 16th cent.: from Italian disastro ‘ill-starred event’, from dis- (expressing negation) + astro ‘star’ (from Latin astrum)." }