Catch Definition
kăch, kĕch
catches, catching, caught
verb
catches, catching, caught
To take hold or spread, as fire.
Webster's New World
To seize and hold, as after a chase; capture.
Webster's New World
To take fire; burn.
Webster's New World
To stop (oneself) from doing an action.
I caught myself before replying.
American Heritage
To seize or take by or as by a trap, snare, etc.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
noun
catches
The act of catching.
Webster's New World
A thing that catches or holds.
Webster's New World
The person or thing caught.
Webster's New World
The amount caught.
Webster's New World
Something that is perceived or noticed.
The mistake you found was a good catch.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adjective
Designed to trick; tricky.
A catch question on an exam.
Webster's New World
Attracting or meant to attract attention or interest.
Webster's New World
idiom
catch fire
- To ignite.
- To become very enthusiastic.
American Heritage
catch it
- To receive a punishment or scolding.
American Heritage
catch (one's) breath
- To rest so as to be able to continue an activity.
American Heritage
catch (one's) death
- To catch a cold or other illness.
American Heritage
catch up with
- To find or arrest after a period of pursuit:
The police finally caught up with him in Omaha.
- To have unpleasant consequences for, especially after a period of quiescence:
mistakes that caught up with him when he ran for president.
American Heritage
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Catch
- catch fire
- catch it
- catch (one's) breath
- catch (one's) death
- catch up with
- catch you later
- catch as catch can
- catch at
- catch it
- catch on
- catch oneself
- catch out
- catch up
- catch up on
Origin of Catch
-
From Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-Norman cachier, from Old Northern French, from Late Latin captiare, from Latin captare. Akin to Modern French chasser (from Old French chacier, whence English chase), Spanish cazar.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English cacchen from Old North French cachier to chase from Vulgar Latin captiāre chase1
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
After Catch-22 a novel by Joseph Heller
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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