cataclysm

French cataclysme, from Latin cataclysmus, from Ancient Greek κατακλυσμός (kataklusmós, “deluge, flood”), from κατακλύζω (kataklúzō, “to dash over, flood, deluge, inundate”), from κατά (katá, “downwards, towards”) + κλύζω (klúzō, “to wash off, to wash away, to dash over”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkætəˌklɪzm̩/

cataclysm (plural cataclysms)

1. A sudden, violent event.
2. (geology) A sudden and violent change in the earth's crust.
3. A great flood.

• cataclysmic

• catastrophe