1. 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.
2. A corresponding period sometimes occurring in men that may be marked by a reduction in sexual activity, although fertility is retained.
3. A critical period or year in a person's life when major changes in health or fortune are thought to take place.
4. 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).
5. of or relating to a climacteric.
6. critical; crucial.

1. A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to take place in the constitution. the critical periods are thought by some to be the years produced by multiplying 7 into the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9; to which others add the 81st year.
2. the period of life that leads up to and follows the end of menstruation in women; the change of life
3. A critical stage or decisive point; a crisis
4. of or pertaining to the climacteric
5. critical or crucial

1. relating to a climacteric; critical.
2. A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to take place in the constitution. the critical periods are thought by some to be the years produced by multiplying 7 into the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9; to which others add the 81st year.
3. any critical period.

1. pertaining to a critical period, crisis, or climax.
2. A critical period in life, or a period in winch some great change is supposed to take place in the human constitution; especially, the so-called change of life or menopause.

1. the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
2. a period in a man's life corresponding to menopause