n.
Pronunciation: ' ka-t ə - ˌ rakt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin cataracta waterfall, portcullis, from Greek katarakt ē s, from katarassein to dash down, from kata- + arassein to strike, dash
Date: 14th century
1 [ Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French catharacte, from Medieval Latin cataracta, from Latin, portcullis] : a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light
2 a obsolete : WATERSPOUT b : WATERFALL especially : a large one over a precipice c : steep rapids in a river d : DOWNPOUR , FLOOD < cataract s of rain> < cataract s of information>
– cat · a · rac · tous \ ˌ ka-t ə - ' rak-t ə s \ adjective