Webster's English Dictionary

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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