cata-, cat-, cath-, kata-

1. The path by which an electric current leaves the electrolyte and passes into the negative pole.
2. The point or surface in contact with the negative pole; in electro-metallurgy the object to be electro-plated.
3. A negatively charged electrode, as of an electrolytic cell, a storage battery, or an electron tube.
4. The positively charged terminal of a primary cell or a storage battery that is supplying current.
5. Etymology: from Greek kathodos, "descent" (kat-, kata-, cata-) + hodos, "way, path".

1. The study of the physics of light reflection: At the local university, there is a department devoted to catoptrics which studies optical systems that function by properties of light and vision.
2. A branch of optics involved with the formation of images by speculums or polished metals: Dr. Tweedie, the physics professor, lectured about catoptrics which involved how images are produced by curved-suface mirrors.

A congenital cataract with bluish coloring and radial lesions; appears to be at least sometimes autosomal dominant (requiring only one affected parent to have the trait to pass it to offspring).

Major damage to the environment, especially when caused by human activity.

1. The chemical decomposition of tissues caused by the application of electric current to the body.
2. The acceleration of a chemical reaction in the region of an electrode.
3. Breaking down a substance with electric stimulation.
4. Catalysis or chemical changes produced by the action of electricity.

1. The migration of charged colloidal particles or molecules through a solution under the influence of an applied electric field usually provided by immersed electrodes.
2. A method of separating substances, especially proteins, and analyzing molecular structure based on the rate of movement of each component in a colloidal suspension while under the influence of an electric field.

Electrophoretic methods are useful in the analysis of protein mixtures because protein particles move with different velocities depending principally on the number of charges carried by the particles.

3. The movement of charged suspended particles through a liquid medium in response to changes in an electric field.

Charged particles of a given substance migrate in a predictable direction and at a characteristic speed.

The pattern of migration can be recorded in bands on an electrophoretogram.

This technique is extensively used to separate and to identify serum proteins and other substances.

Hysteria with cataleptic manifestations or sustained immobility of postures or physical positions.

1. Pertaining to or effecting the destructive metabolism of fat.
2. Relating to the breakdown (catabolism) of fat.