Cataract

GRE Barron

[编辑] 解释

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
? cataractous adjective