[kah-tuh] 
| an exercise consisting of several of the specific movements of a martial art, esp. a pattern prescribed for defending oneself against several attackers, used in judo and karate training. |
| 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). |
| ka·ta (kä'tä) n. pl. kata or ka·tas A system of basic body positioning and movement exercises, as in karate or judo. [Japanese, style, traditional form.] |
cata- pref.
Down: catabolism.
Reverse; backward; degenerative: cataplasia.
