cataract

/ˈkætərækt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkætərækt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-tə-ˌrakt/ (ame, mw)

cataract — noun

1. a medical condition in which the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, making it d

1.名詞B2
釋義

a medical condition in which the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, making it difficult to see clearly. A cataract can form slowly as a person ages and may need an operation to remove it.

例句

Aunt Beatriz had cataract surgery last spring and says she can see colours again.

cataract surgery — common collocation for the medical procedure

Dr. Okafor told Ravi his right eye was developing a cataract and needed monitoring.

develop a cataract — typical verb collocation for onset

同義詞
反義詞
  • clear lens

    the opposite condition — a healthy, transparent lens

文法句型

have/get + cataract

cataract surgery

develop a cataract

用法筆記

Common in medical contexts, especially discussing age-related vision problems. 'Cataract' is the condition itself; the surgical procedure is called cataract surgery or cataract removal.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather has a cataract in his knee.
✅My grandfather has a cataract in his eye.
💡Cataracts only affect the lens of the eye, not other body parts.
❌She went blind because of cataracts in both ears.
✅She went blind because of cataracts in both eyes.
💡Cataracts affect vision, not hearing.

2. a very large, steep waterfall — often used to describe powerful rivers or dramat

2.名詞C1
釋義

a very large, steep waterfall — often used to describe powerful rivers or dramatic natural scenery in geography or literature.

例句

The cataracts of the Nile once blocked ships from travelling upstream into central Africa.

the cataracts of [river] — geographical phrase for a series of waterfalls

From the lookout the children saw a great cataract crashing into the misty gorge below.

a great cataract — typical literary collocation; passive view description

同義詞
  • waterfall

    the common everyday word for falling water

  • cascade

    often suggests smaller, step-like falls rather than a single big drop

  • falls

    shorter synonym used in place names (Niagara Falls)

文法句型

the cataracts of [place]

a great cataract

用法筆記

In modern everyday English, 'waterfall' is far more common. 'Cataract' is mainly found in formal writing, historical accounts, or poetic descriptions of large waterfalls. The plural form 'cataracts' is often used for a series of waterfalls along a river.