/ English Dictionary

CATCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: caught   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

Example:

the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar

Synonyms:

apprehension; arrest; catch; collar; pinch; taking into custody

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

capture; gaining control; seizure (the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property)

Derivation:

catch (succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of catching an object with the hands

Example:

the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion

Synonyms:

catch; grab; snap; snatch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

fair catch ((American football) a catch of a punt on the fly by a defensive player who has signalled that he will not run and so should not be tackled)

interception ((American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team)

reception ((American football) the act of catching a pass in football)

rebound (the act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot)

shoestring catch ((baseball) a running catch made near the ground)

interlock; interlocking; mesh; meshing (the act of interlocking or meshing)

Derivation:

catch (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth

Example:

he played catch with his son in the backyard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

game (an amusement or pastime)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

latch (catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove)

hook (a catch for locking a door)

hood latch (a catch that holds the hood of a car shut)

hasp (a fastener for a door or lid; a hinged metal plate is fitted over a staple and is locked with a pin or padlock)

Derivation:

catch (to hook or entangle)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A restraint that checks the motion of something

Example:

he used a book as a stop to hold the door open

Synonyms:

catch; stop

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

constraint; restraint (a device that retards something's motion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

bench hook (any of various stops on a workbench against which work can be pushed (as while chiseling or planing))

doorstop; doorstopper (a stop that keeps open doors from moving)

click; detent; dog; pawl (a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward)

trip; tripper (a catch mechanism that acts as a switch)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

Example:

it sounds good but what's the catch?

Synonyms:

catch; gimmick

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

drawback (the quality of being a hindrance)

Derivation:

catchy (having concealed difficulty)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

delivery; manner of speaking; speech (your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching)

Example:

he shared his catch with the others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

Synonyms:

catch; match

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)

Derivation:

catch (attract; cause to be enamored)

Sense 10

Meaning:

The quantity that was caught

Example:

the catch was only 10 fish

Synonyms:

catch; haul

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

indefinite quantity (an estimated quantity)

Derivation:

catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Contract

Example:

did you catch a cold?

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

contract; get; take (be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness)

Verb group:

contract; get; take (be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

catch cold (come down with a cold)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned

Example:

I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

delay; detain; hold up (cause to be slowed down or delayed)

Verb group:

catch (cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be struck or affected by

Example:

catch the mood

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

catch; get (suffer from the receipt of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

Example:

I just don't get him

Synonyms:

catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Verb group:

catch; get (apprehend and reproduce accurately)

get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Detect a blunder or misstep

Example:

The reporter tripped up the senator

Synonyms:

catch; trip up

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see (get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 6

Meaning:

Discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

Example:

She was caught shoplifting

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

surprise (cause to be surprised)

Verb group:

catch (become aware of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 7

Meaning:

Become aware of

Example:

he caught her staring out the window

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

find; see; witness (perceive or be contemporaneous with)

Verb group:

catch (discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

Meaning:

Be the catcher

Example:

Who is catching?

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

play (participate in games or sport)

Verb group:

catch; grab; take hold of (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

catcher ((baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Catch up with and possibly overtake

Example:

The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp

Synonyms:

catch; catch up with; overtake

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

"Catch" entails doing...:

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Verb group:

catch (reach in time)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

Example:

Did you catch the thief?

Synonyms:

capture; catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

recapture; retake (capture again)

lasso; rope (catch with a lasso)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

catch (the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal))

Sense 11

Meaning:

To hook or entangle

Example:

One foot caught in the stirrup

Synonyms:

catch; hitch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Verb group:

catch (cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

snag (catch on a snag)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

catch (a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled

Example:

I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Verb group:

catch (delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned)

catch; hitch (to hook or entangle)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 13

Meaning:

Spread or be communicated

Example:

The fashion did not catch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

propagate; spread (become distributed or widespread)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 14

Meaning:

Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

Example:

The punch caught him in the stomach

Synonyms:

catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 15

Meaning:

Take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

Example:

Grab the elevator door!

Synonyms:

catch; grab; take hold of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Verb group:

catch (be the catcher)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

harpoon (spear with a harpoon)

fish (catch or try to catch fish or shellfish)

hook (catch with a hook)

net; nett (catch with a net)

intercept; stop (seize on its way)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Also:

catch up (reach the point where one should be after a delay)

Derivation:

catch (the act of catching an object with the hands)

catcher (the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws)

catcher ((baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher)

Sense 16

Meaning:

Capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping

Example:

I caught a rabbit in the trap today

Synonyms:

capture; catch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Verb group:

catch (take in and retain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

ensnare; entrap; snare; trammel; trap (catch in or as if in a trap)

rat (catch rats, especially with dogs)

batfowl (catch birds by temporarily blinding them)

bag (capture or kill, as in hunting)

frog (hunt frogs for food)

hunt; hunt down; run; track down (pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

catch (the quantity that was caught)

Sense 17

Meaning:

Take in and retain

Example:

We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

accumulate; amass; collect; compile; hoard; pile up; roll up (get or gather together)

Verb group:

capture; catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

catchment (a structure in which water is collected (especially a natural drainage area))

Sense 18

Meaning:

Attract and fix

Example:

Catch the attention of the waiter

Synonyms:

arrest; catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 19

Meaning:

Apprehend and reproduce accurately

Example:

She got the mood just right in her photographs

Synonyms:

catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

reproduce (recreate a sound, image, idea, mood, atmosphere, etc.)

Verb group:

catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 20

Meaning:

Attract; cause to be enamored

Example:

She captured all the men's hearts

Synonyms:

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

appeal; attract (be attractive to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

hold (hold the attention of)

work (gratify and charm, usually in order to influence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

catch (a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect)

Sense 21

Meaning:

Reach in time

Example:

I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

board; get on (get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.))

Verb group:

catch; catch up with; overtake (catch up with and possibly overtake)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

get (reach and board)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 22

Meaning:

Suffer from the receipt of

Example:

She will catch hell for this behavior!

Synonyms:

catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)

Verb group:

catch (be struck or affected by)

get; receive (receive as a retribution or punishment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 23

Meaning:

Perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily

Example:

Catch a glimpse

Synonyms:

catch; pick up

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 24

Meaning:

See or watch

Example:

see a movie

Synonyms:

catch; see; take in; view; watch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

watch (look attentively)

Verb group:

see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

visualise; visualize (view the outline of by means of an X-ray)

spectate (be a spectator in a sports event)

preview (watch (a movie or play) before it is released to the general public)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue catch the movie

Sense 25

Meaning:

Hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

Example:

We overheard the conversation at the next table

Synonyms:

catch; overhear; take in

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)

"Catch" entails doing...:

listen (hear with intention)

Verb group:

catch; get (perceive by hearing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE

Sense 26

Meaning:

Perceive by hearing

Example:

She didn't get his name when they met the first time

Synonyms:

catch; get

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)

Verb group:

catch; overhear; take in (hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 27

Meaning:

Get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly

Example:

catch one's breath

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 28

Meaning:

Check oneself during an action

Example:

She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 29

Meaning:

Start burning

Example:

The fire caught

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

catch fire; combust; conflagrate; erupt; ignite; take fire (start to burn or burst into flames)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

“For what did Jekyll”—he caught himself up at the word with a start, and then conquering the weakness—“what could Jekyll want with it?

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

We had heard of his presence in the district and had once or twice caught sight of his tall figure upon the moorland paths.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she was in the greatest danger.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch early.

(Pancreatic Cancer, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

Food or small objects can cause choking if they get caught in your throat and block your airway.

(Choking, NIH)

You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes.

(Diphtheria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading chlamydia.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

They are also a good time to catch or prevent problems.

(Children's Health, NIH)

A colorless gas that catches fire easily and is used as fuel.

(Butane, NCI Dictionary)

Once you catch chickenpox, the virus usually stays in your body.

(Chickenpox, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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