Wordsmith's definition of "cataract" contrasts it with "cascade".
cascade
n.
5Fr < It cascata < cascare, to fall < VL *casicare < pp. of L cadere: see CASE16
1 a small, steep waterfall, esp. one of a series
2 anything suggesting this, as a shower of sparks or an arrangement of lace or drapery in rippling folds
3 a connected series, as of amplifiers for an increase in output
vt., vi.
3cad$ed, 3cad4ing
1 to fall or drop in a cascade
2 to connect in a series