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| catch [ kach, kech ] |
verb (past and past participle caught [ kawt ], present participle catch·ing, 3rd person present singular catch·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb stop something with hands: to take hold of or stop something that is traveling through the air
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2. transitive verb collect falling objects from below: to collect from below something such as rain that is falling
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3. transitive verb grasp somebody or something: to take tight hold of somebody or something suddenly
  He caught me by the shoulder.
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4. transitive verb capture animal: to capture or trap an animal
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5. transitive verb capture criminal: to capture somebody, especially a criminal or somebody suspected of wrongdoing, after a search or chase
Have they caught the culprit?
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6. transitive verb reach somebody or something: to reach or get alongside a person or vehicle moving ahead, usually while moving quickly
trying to catch the car in front
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7. transitive verb get on board public transportation: to arrive in time to board a bus, train, or other form of public transportation
I have a plane to catch.
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8. transitive and intransitive verb get disease: to become infected with a disease
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9. transitive verb surprise somebody doing wrong: to surprise or stop somebody who is in the act of doing something illegal or forbidden
He caught her taking money from the register.
caught me reading her diary
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10. transitive verb surprise somebody doing something embarrassing: to surprise or observe somebody who is doing something considered embarrassing, impolite, or private
I caught him gazing at himself in the mirror.
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11. transitive verb attract somebody's attention: to attract the interest or attention of others
a campaign that had caught the nation's imagination
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12. transitive and intransitive verb manage to hear something: to manage to hear what is being said
I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.
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13. transitive verb understand something: to understand the right meaning of something
He didn't seem to catch the drift of what was being said.
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14. transitive verb notice something subtle or fleeting: to notice something subtle in the way somebody is speaking or behaving that tells you how that person really feels
I caught a note of sarcasm in his voice.
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15. transitive verb see performer or production: to see a particular television program, movie, or play, or see a particular person performing in something
(
informal
)
If you get the chance, try and catch the new production of "Hamlet."
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16. transitive verb manage to meet somebody: to manage to meet or talk to somebody, especially somebody who is very busy
(
informal
)
I was hoping to catch the doctor before she left.
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17. transitive verb get something you need: to get food, drink, or rest only hurriedly or in small amounts
(
informal
)
We can stop and catch a bite to eat.
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18. transitive verb strike somebody: to strike somebody with a blow
a blow that caught him on the side of the head
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19. transitive verb take impact of something: to receive the impact or force from something such as a blow or the force of somebody's anger or emotions
He caught the full impact of the blast.
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20. transitive and intransitive verb entangle something: to entangle or hook something such as clothing on something sharp, or become entangled or hooked, sometimes resulting in damage
She caught her blouse on a nail.
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21. transitive and intransitive verb trap something: to trap something in an opening or door, or become trapped
I caught my fingers in the mailbox.
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22. transitive verb delay somebody: to delay somebody or hold somebody up
(
usually passive
)
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23. vr stop yourself from doing something: to stop yourself from saying or doing something
He was about to make a sarcastic remark but caught himself just in time.
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24. transitive verb surprise somebody: to take somebody by surprise
(
usually passive
)
She got caught in the rain and was absolutely soaked.
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25. transitive verb trick somebody: to trick or deceive somebody
a scam that caught most people who had any sense of compassion
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26. transitive verb reproduce aspects of something or somebody: to reproduce successfully the most typical aspects of somebody or something
a novel that catches the mood of prewar Berlin
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27. transitive verb record something on film: to record somebody or something on film or tape
the very first time this elusive bird has been caught on film
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28. intransitive verb be carried by emotion: to be eager to do something, or reach for something eagerly
She caught at the opportunity of making some extra cash.
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29. intransitive verb begin to burn: to ignite, become alight, or begin to burn
catch fire
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30. intransitive verb play baseball as catcher: to act as catcher on a baseball team
Clevenger will be catching again in the second game of the season.
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31. transitive verb place something on or against something: to put or rest something on or lean something against something else
(
slang
)
(
used in Black English
)
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noun (plural catch·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. act of catching something: the catching of something such as a ball
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2. somebody who can catch: a skilled catcher of something
He missed the ball again! He's such a lousy catch!
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3. ball game: a game in which people throw a ball to each other and catch it
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4. move in ball games: a move in which a player in baseball, basketball, or football catches the ball
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5. number of things caught: the amount or number of things caught, e.g. when fishing
Not much of a catch today, I'm afraid.
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6. device that closes or fastens: a device for fastening something such as a door, window, or piece of jewelry
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7. snag: a hidden or unexpected problem, especially one suspected to exist because everything seems too good to be true
(
informal
)
Okay, it sounds great: where's the catch?
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8. break in voice: a brief moment when somebody's voice becomes husky or unclear because of intense emotion
There was a slight catch in his voice as he read the letter out loud.
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9. ideal or desirable person: somebody or something regarded as ideal or particularly desirable, especially as a marriage partner
(
informal
)
Her friends regarded Tom as quite a catch.
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10. humorous song: a round or canon with humorous, often risqué, words, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries
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| [12th century. < Anglo-Norman or Old French cachier "chase" < Latin captare "try to catch" < capere "take"] |
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| catch·a·ble adjective |
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be caught short to be taken by surprise and therefore put at a disadvantage
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catch it to get into trouble (informal)
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