See Also: Cage(finance)
Cage, rib(health)
cage(medicine)
cage(dictionary)
Cage(money)
rib cage(dictionary)
Cage(casino)
cage 1, noun(dictionary)
cage 2, verb(dictionary)
Cage, John(encyclopedia)

catastrophe (iou) and Cage, rib (health)


catastrophe (iou)



catastrophe noun. M16.
[Latin catastropha from Greek katastrophe overturning, sudden turn, from katastrephein, formed as CATA- + strephein turn.]
1. The denouement of a play, esp. a tragedy; the final resolution of a novel etc. M16.
2. A disastrous conclusion; overthrow, ruin, calamitous fate. L16.
b. The buttocks. joc. rare (Shakes.). Only in L16.
3. A revolutionary event. L17.
b. Geology. (An event causing) a sudden upheaval or discontinuity in the stratigraphic record. M19.
4. A sudden or widespread or noteworthy disaster; an extreme misfortune. M18.
Phrases: ultraviolet catastrophe: see ULTRAVIOLET adjective 2.
Comb.: catastrophe theory Math. the topological description of systems which display abrupt discontinuous change.
catastrophic adjective of or pertaining to a catastrophe; disastrous, dreadful: M19.
cata'strophical adjective = catastrophic E19.
cata'strophically adverb L19.

Cage, rib (health)


The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum).