n. & adj.
n. 1 Med. the period of life when fertility and sexual activity are in decline. 2 a supposed critical period in life (esp. occurring at intervals of seven years).
adj. 1 Med. occurring at the climacteric. 2 constituting a crisis; critical.
[ F climatérique or L climactericus f. Gk klimakterikos f. klimakter critical period f. klimax -akos ladder ]