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| cat·a·ract [ káttə ràkt ] (plural cat·a·racts) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. ophthalmology eye disease: an eye disease in which the lens becomes covered in an opaque film that affects sight, eventually causing total loss of sight. The condition usually affects older people and is generally found in both eyes to varying degrees. It can be treated surgically by replacing the lens with an artificial implant.
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2. ophthalmology film over eye lens: the lens of the eye or the membrane surrounding it capsule that has become opaque as a result of disease
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3. geography waterfall: a series of river rapids and small waterfalls with only moderate vertical drop
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literary
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4. flood: a heavy downpour of rain or a great flood
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literary
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| [15th century. < Latin cataracta "portcullis" < Greek kataraktēs "down-dashing" < katarassein "dash down" < arassein "to strike"] |
