cata-

a prefix meaning “down,” “against,” “back,” occurring originally in loanwords from Greek (cataclysm; catalog; catalepsy); on this model, used in the formation of other compound words (catagenesis; cataphyll).
Also especially before a vowel, cat-; cath-, kata-.

Origin of cata-

< Greek kata-, combining form of katá down, through, against, according to, towards, during

Words nearby cata-

cat-scratch disease, cat-scratch fever, cat-tail, cat-train, cat., cata-, catabaptist, catabasis, catabiotic, catabolism, catabolite

British Dictionary definitions for cata-

cata-

kata-, before an aspirate cath- or before a vowel cat-

prefix

down; downwards; lower in position catadromous; cataphyll
indicating reversal, opposition, degeneration, etc cataplasia; catatonia

Word Origin for cata-

from Greek kata-, from kata. In compound words borrowed from Greek, kata- means: down ( catabolism), away, off ( catalectic), against ( category), according to ( catholic), and thoroughly ( catalogue)

Medical definitions for cata-

cata-

pref.

Down:catabolism.
Reverse; backward; degenerative:cataplasia.