See Also: Cataract(medicine)
cataract(encyclopedia)
cataract(dictionary)
Eye cataract(health)
Cataract(health)
cataract(dictionary)
progeria with cataract(medicine)
progressive cataract(medicine)
punctate cataract(medicine)
pyramidal cataract(medicine)

cataract (iou)



cataract noun & verb. LME.
[Latin cataracta waterfall, floodgate, portcullis, from Greek kataractes, -rrh- down-rushing (water etc.), prob. from katarassein, formed as CATA- + arassein strike, smash. In sense 2 app. fig. use of sense 'portcullis'.]
A. noun.
1. In pl. Floodgates, spec. of heaven (Genesis 7:11, 8:2). LME-L17.
b. transf. A waterspout. M16-M17.
2. Medicine. (A condition of) partial or complete opacity of the lens of the eye. LME.
3. A waterfall, spec. a large and sheer one; a torrent. L16.
4. A portcullis; the grating of a window. rare. M17-M19.
B. verb.
1. verb trans. Pour in a torrent. rare. L18.
2. verb intrans. Fall in or like a cataract. M19.
cataractal adjective of the nature of a cataract L19.
cataractic adjective (rare) cataractal L17-E19.
cataractous adjective of or affected by cataract of the eye E19.