tragedy
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++tra·ge·dy /ˈtrædʒədi/ ●●○ noun (plural tragedies) 1 [countable, uncountable]DISASTER a very sad event, that shocks people because it involves death 悲剧性事件，惨剧，惨案 The tragedy happened as they were returning home from a night out. 悲剧发生在他们夜里外出归来的路上。 Tragedy struck the family when their two-year-old son was killed in an accident. 悲剧降临到这个家庭，他们两岁的儿子在一次事故中丧生。2 [countable] informalDISASTER something that seems very sad and unnecessary because something will be wasted, lost, or harmed 〔因浪费、失去或伤害而造成的〕不幸，遗憾 It’s a tragedy to see so much talent going to waste. 看着如此才华白白浪费，真是可惜。3 a) [countable]ALAPT a serious play or book that ends sadly, especially with the death of the main character 悲剧（作品） → comedy ‘Hamlet’ is one of Shakespeare’s best known tragedies. 《哈姆雷特》是莎士比亚最著名的悲剧之一。 b) [uncountable]ALAPT this type of play or book 悲剧〔指文学体裁〕 an actor specializing in tragedy 一名专演悲剧的演员n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa terrible/great tragedyHis death is a terrible tragedy for his family.an awful/appalling tragedy (=very unpleasant and shocking)This is an appalling tragedy which will haunt us for the rest of our lives.a personal tragedyHe suffered a great personal tragedy two years ago when his son died suddenly.a human tragedyThe UN wants to see an end to the conflict and the human tragedy involved.verbsa tragedy happens/occursThe tragedy happened shortly before 5pm on Saturday.a tragedy unfoldsWhen you visit the country, you begin to appreciate the size of the tragedy that is unfolding.tragedy strikes (=happens suddenly)Just when it looked as though everything would turn out right, tragedy struck and Jenny developed a fatal illness.end in tragedyThe all-night fishing trip ended in tragedy for the four men after their boat ran aground.avert/avoid a tragedy (=prevent it from happening)The owners could have done something to avert the tragedy.
Examples from the Corpus
tragedy• Theirs is a tragedy for our entire nation.• Unless the world deals with the AIDS threat now, the African continent could suffer "a tragedy of historic proportions."• The girl's short life had been dogged by tragedy.• Oedipus is one of the most famous characters in Greek tragedy.• The real tragedy is that the city will no longer have an orchestra.• Shakespeare's tragedies• What the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South said about the tragedy unfolding before us is right.• The story went that after the tragedy Godolphin had retired to his country estate, and never again ventured beyond its perimeters.• Investigators still do not know what caused the tragedy, which killed all 278 people on board.• Area police, who were coordinating the tragedy coverage, issued a statement following complaints from some of the families.• The Fairley family considered that they dealt with their tragedy very well, because both children afterwards showed no signs of trauma.• There is no clear professional accountability when tragedies occur although there are some signs of it emerging.• By increasing the emotional element in comedy, comedy comes into closer relationship with tragedy.• the worst tragedy in the history of space flightTragedy struck• Tragedy struck the family when their two-year old son died of leukemia.Origin tragedy (1300-1400) Old French tragedie, from Latin, from Greek tragoidia, probably from tragos “goat” + aeidein “to sing”tra·ge·dy noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
that a people very because Corpus event, shocks sad
tragedy
tra‧ge‧dy /ˈtrædʒədi, ˈtrædʒɪdi/
noun (plural tragedies)
The tragedy happened as they were returning home from a night out.
Tragedy struck the family when their two-year-old son was killed in an accident.
2. [countable] informal something that seems very sad and unnecessary because something will be wasted, lost, or harmed:
It’s a tragedy to see so much talent going to waste.
3.
a. [countable] a serious play or book that ends sadly, especially with the death of the main character ⇨ comedy:
‘Hamlet’ is one of Shakespeare’s best known tragedies.
b. [uncountable] this type of play or book:
an actor specializing in tragedy
■ adjectives
▪a terrible/great tragedy His death is a terrible tragedy for his family.
▪an awful/appalling tragedy (=very unpleasant and shocking) This is an appalling tragedy which will haunt us for the rest of our lives.
▪a personal tragedy He suffered a great personal tragedy two years ago when his son died suddenly.
▪a human tragedy The UN wants to see an end to the conflict and the human tragedy involved.
■ verbs
▪a tragedy happens/occurs The tragedy happened shortly before 5pm on Saturday.
▪a tragedy unfolds When you visit the country, you begin to appreciate the size of the tragedy that is unfolding.
▪tragedy strikes (=happens suddenly) Just when it looked as though everything would turn out right, tragedy struck and Jenny developed a fatal illness.
▪end in tragedy The all-night fishing trip ended in tragedy for the four men after their boat ran aground.
▪avert/avoid a tragedy (=prevent it from happening) The owners could have done something to avert the tragedy.
▪ disaster a sudden event such as an accident, or a natural event such as a flood or storm, which causes great damage or suffering: 200 people died in the train disaster. | The earthquake was the worst natural disaster to hit India for over 50 years.
▪catastrophe a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction, damage, suffering, or death over a wide area of the world: A large comet hitting the earth would be a catastrophe. | We don’t want another nuclear catastrophe like Chernobyl. | Scientists say that the oil spill is an ecological catastrophe.
▪tragedy a very sad event, that shocks people because it involves death: It was a tragedy that he died so young. | the AIDS tragedy in Africa
▪debacle an event or situation that is a complete failure and is very embarrassing: The opening ceremony turned into a debacle. | The team is hoping to do better this game, after last week’s debacle against the Chicago Bears.
tra‧ge‧dy /ˈtrædʒədi, ˈtrædʒɪdi/
noun (plural tragedies) Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: tragedie, from Latin, from Greek tragoidia, probably from tragos 'goat' + aeidein 'to sing'
1. [uncountable and countable] a very sad event, that shocks people because it involves death:Language: Old French
Origin: tragedie, from Latin, from Greek tragoidia, probably from tragos 'goat' + aeidein 'to sing'
2. [countable] informal something that seems very sad and unnecessary because something will be wasted, lost, or harmed:
3.
a. [countable] a serious play or book that ends sadly, especially with the death of the main character ⇨ comedy:
b. [uncountable] this type of play or book:
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