noun

cataracts

KA-tuh-rakts

Cataracts (noun) means plural of cataract; multiple waterfalls, or (medically) clouded lenses affecting both eyes. Example: “His cataracts had worsened over the past year, making it hard to read.”

noun

Plural of cataract; multiple waterfalls, or (medically) clouded lenses affecting both eyes.

"His cataracts had worsened over the past year, making it hard to read."

How to use cataracts

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMore than one cataract — usually referring to the eye condition in both eyes.

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His _____ had worsened over the past year, making it hard to read.

Etymology

PIE word *ḱóm From Late Middle English cataractes, cataractis, cateractes, used to translate καταρράκται (katarrháktai, “(probably) floodgates, sluices”) in the Septuagint and cataractae (“floodgates, sluices”) in the Vulgate versions of the Bible. The Middle English words are plural forms of cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“floodgate of heaven”), from Old French cataracte (modern French cataracte), and from its etymon Latin cataracta (“floodgate; waterfall”), from Ancient Greek καταρ(ρ)άκτης (katar(rh)áktēs, “(noun) waterfall; (adjective) rushing downwards”), from καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (katar(rh)ā́ssō, “to pour down; to rush downwards”) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns denoting a state of being). Καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (Katar(rh)ā́ssō) is derived either: * from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, prefix meaning ‘downwards’) + ἀρᾰ́σσω (arắssō, “to dash to pieces; to strike”) (further etymology unknown, possibly onomatopoeic) or ῥᾱ́σσω (rhā́ssō, “to dash; to strike”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreh₂ǵʰ- (“to pound, strike”)); or * from καταρρηγνύναι (katarrhēgnúnai, “to break down”). By surface analysis, cataract + -s (suffix forming pluralia tantum).

Origin: Old French

Frequently asked questions

What does “cataracts” mean?

The word “cataracts” means plural of cataract; multiple waterfalls, or (medically) clouded lenses affecting both eyes. In plain terms, more than one cataract — usually referring to the eye condition in both eyes.

How do you pronounce “cataracts”?

“Cataracts” is pronounced KA-tuh-rakts (/ˈkætəˌɹæk(t)s/ in IPA).

How do you use “cataracts” in a sentence?

Here is “cataracts” used in a sentence: “His cataracts had worsened over the past year, making it hard to read.”

What part of speech is “cataracts”?

“Cataracts” is a noun.