climacteric

views updated May 29 2018

cli·mac·ter·ic / klīˈmaktərik; ˌklīmakˈterik/ • n. a critical period or event: the first major climacteric in twentieth-century poetry. ∎ Med. the period of life when fertility and sexual activity are in decline; (in women) menopause. ∎ Bot. the ripening period of certain fruits such as apples, involving increased metabolism and only possible while on the tree.• adj. having extreme and far-reaching implications or results; critical. ∎ Med. occurring at, characteristic of, or undergoing the climacteric; (in women) menopausal. ∎ Bot. (of a fruit) undergoing a climacteric.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

climacteric

views updated Jun 08 2018

climacteric
1. Post‐harvesting increase in metabolic rate and production of carbon dioxide and ethylene associated with ripening in some (but not all) fruits.

2. Clinically, the menopause in women, or declining sexual drive and fertility in men after middle age.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

climacteric

views updated May 17 2018

climacteric pert. to a critical period (in human life); also sb. XVI (formerly often climateric). — F. climatérique or L. clīmactēricus — Gr. klīmaktērikós, f. klîmax, klīmak- ladder + -tēr agent-suffix.
Also climacterical XVI.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

climacteric

views updated May 18 2018

climacteric In plants, the phase of increased respiration found at the ripening of fruit and at senescence.

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

climacteric

views updated May 18 2018

climacteric The phase of increased respiration found at the ripening of fruit and at senescence.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

climacteric

views updated May 11 2018

climacteric (kly-mak-ter-ik) n. see menopause. male c. declining sexual drive and fertility in men, usually occurring around or after middle age.

A Dictionary of Nursing