catch Hear it!

catch definition

catch (kac̸h, kec̸h)

transitive verb caught, catching catch′·ing

  1. to seize and hold, as after a chase; capture
  2. to seize or take by or as by a trap, snare, etc.
  3. to deceive; ensnare
  4. to discover by taking unawares; surprise in some act to be caught stealing
  5. to strike suddenly; hit the blow caught him in the arm
  6. to overtake or get to in time; be in time for to catch a train
  7. to intercept the motion or action of; lay hold of; grab or snatch to catch a ball
    1. to take or get as by chance or quickly to catch someone's attention, to catch a glimpse
    2. Informal to manage to see, hear, find, etc. to catch a radio program
  9. to take or get passively; incur or contract without intention, as by exposure to catch the mumps
    1. to take in with one's mind or senses; understand; apprehend
    2. to show an understanding of by depicting the statue catches her beauty
  11. to captivate; charm
  12. to cause to be entangled or snagged to catch one's heel in a rug
  13. Baseball to act as catcher for (a specified pitcher, a specified game, etc.)

Etymology: ME cacchen < Anglo-Fr cachier < VL *captiare < L captare, to seize < pp. of capere, to take hold: see have

intransitive verb

  1. to become held, fastened, or entangled her sleeve caught on a nail
  2. to take hold or spread, as fire
  3. to take fire; burn
  4. to take and keep hold, as a lock
  5. to act or serve as a catcher

noun

  1. the act of catching
  2. a thing that catches or holds
  3. the person or thing caught
  4. the amount caught
  5. a person worth catching, esp. as a husband or wife
  6. a snatch, scrap, or fragment catches of old tunes
  7. a break in the voice, caused by emotion
  8. ☆ an exercise or a simple game consisting of throwing and catching a ball
  9. ☆ Informal a hidden qualification; tricky condition a catch in his offer
  10. Music a round for three or more unaccompanied voices
  11. Sports a catching of a ball in a specified manner
  12. Baseball the catching of a ball in flight and holding it firmly

adjective

  1. designed to trick; tricky a catch question on an exam
  2. attracting or meant to attract attention or interest
catch Idioms

catch as catch can

with any hold, approach, technique, etc.: originally said of a style of wrestling

catch at

  1. to try to catch
  2. to reach for eagerly; seize desperately

catch it

Informal to receive a scolding or other punishment

catch on

☆
  1. to grasp the meaning; understand
  2. to become fashionable or popular

catch oneself

to hold oneself back abruptly from saying or doing something

catch out

Chiefly Brit. to take notice of a person's error, inconsistency, or unacceptable action

catch up

  1. to take or lift up suddenly; seize; snatch
  2. to show to be in error
  3. to come up even, as by hurrying or by extra work; overtake
  4. to fasten in loops

catch up on

to engage in more (work, sleep, etc.) so as to compensate for earlier neglect

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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