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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary cat·a·ract \\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 cataracts of rain cataracts of information• cat·a·rac·tous \\ˌka-tə-ˈrak-təs\\ adjective cataract
1430, from L. cataracta "waterfall," from Gk. katarhaktes "swooping, rushing down," from kata "down" + arhattein "to strike hard." Its alternative sense in L. of "portcullis" was probably passed through M.Fr. to form the Eng. meaning "eye disease" (1547), on the notion of "obstruction." Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishcataract
noun VERB + CATARACT have | develop | remove A cataract can be removed under local anaesthetic. CATARACT + NOUN operation, surgery Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 cataractcat·ar·act / 5kAtErAkt / noun1. a medical condition that affects the lens of the eye and causes a gradual loss of sight 内障；白内障2. ( literary) a large steep waterfall 大瀑布 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: senile cataract , or cataract bird , or glacier cataract
cat·a·ractI. \ˈkad.əˌrakt, -atə-\ noun(-s)Etymology: Middle English cataracte floodgate, from Latin cataracta, catarractes waterfall, portcullis, floodgate, from Greek kataraktēs, katarrhaktēs, literally, sheer, abrupt, from katarassein to dash down, from kata- cata- + arassein to strike, smash1. obsolete : floodgate — used in plural < the rain descended for forty days, the cataracts … of heaven being opened — John Milton >2. [Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French cataracte, from Medieval Latin cataracta; perhaps from its likeness to a portcullis in constituting an obstruction] : a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its capsule varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light3. [Latin cataracta, catarractes waterfall] a. obsolete : waterspout b. : waterfall ; especially : a great fall of water over a precipice — compare cascade 1 c. : steep rapids in a large river < the cataracts of the Nile > d. : an overwhelming downpour or rush : flood < cataracts of rain poured down — C.S.Forester > < his cataract of eloquence — Herman Wouk >• cat·a·ract·al \| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷təl\ adjectiveII. verb(-ed/-ing/-s)transitive verb: to cause to fall like a cataract < the … rotor cataracts water over the top of the case — Flow Quarterly >intransitive verb: to fall like a cataract < rain cataracting down the windowpanes > |