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.
Etymology: F climat{eacute}rique or L climactericus f. Gk klimakterikos f. klimakter critical period f. klimax -akos ladder