—n.
1 Med. the period of life when fertility and sexual activity are in decline.
2 a supposed critical period in life (esp. occurring at intervals of seven years).
—adj.
1 Med. occurring at the climacteric.
2 constituting a crisis; critical.
Etymology: F climateacuterique or L climactericus f. Gk klimakterikos f. klimakter critical period f. klimax -akos ladder
Useful english dictionary. 2012.