CATARACT


Meaning of CATARACT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈka-tə-ˌrakt ]

noun

Etymology: Latin cataracta waterfall, portcullis, from Greek kataraktēs, 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 ˌka-tə-ˈrak-təs adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.