Central America region containing a waterfall (8)
I believe the answer is:
cataract
'waterfall' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'central america region containing a' is the wordplay.
'central america' becomes 'ca' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'region' becomes 'tract' (both can mean a large piece of land).
'containing' indicates putting letters inside.
'tract' going around 'a' is 'taract'.
'ca'+'taract'='CATARACT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cataract that I've seen before include "one may have causing blurred vision" , "may impair the vision" , "can obstruct your view" , "A real downpour" , "Cascade; eye defect" .)