cataract
cat.a.ract \'kat-*-.rakt\ \.kat-*-'rak-t*l\ n [L cataracta waterfall, portcullis, fr. Gk katarakte-s, fr. k]atarassein to dash down, fr. kata- cata- + arassein to strike, dash ] [MF or ML; MF cataracte, fr. ML cataracta, fr. L, portcullis 1: a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its capsule obstructing the pass age of light obs 2a: WATERSPOUT 2b: WATERFALL; esp : a large one over a precipice 2c: steep rapids in a river 2d: DOWNPOUR, FLOOD - cat.a.rac.tal aj