climacteric

(klī maktər ik, klī′mak terik)

noun

  1. a period in the life of a person when an important physiological change occurs; specif., the period of menopause
  2. any crucial period

Origin: L climactericus < Gr klimaktērikos < klimaktēr, round of a ladder < klimax, ladder: see climax

adjective

of or resembling a climacteric; crucial

See climacteric in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A period of life characterized by physiological and psychic change that marks the end of the reproductive capacity of women and terminates with the completion of menopause.
    b. A corresponding period sometimes occurring in men that may be marked by a reduction in sexual activity, although fertility is retained.
  2. A critical period or year in a person's life when major changes in health or fortune are thought to take place.
  3. A critical stage, period, or year: “before the end of the millennium, whether [he] lives to see that ecclesiastical climacteric or not” (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
adjective
  1. Of or relating to a climacteric.
  2. Critical; crucial.

Origin:

Origin: From Latin clīmactēricus, of a dangerous period in life

Origin: , from Greek klīmaktērikos

Origin: , from klīmaktēr, dangerous point, rung of a ladder

Origin: , from klīmax, ladder; see climax

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