catch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident
    gimmick.
    • it sounds good but what's the catch?
  2. noun the quantity that was caught
    haul.
    • the catch was only 10 fish
  3. noun a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
    match.
  4. noun anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching)
    • he shared his catch with the others
  5. noun a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)
  6. noun a restraint that checks the motion of something
    stop.
    • he used a book as a stop to hold the door open
  7. noun a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window
  8. noun a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth
    • he played catch with his son in the backyard
  9. noun the act of catching an object with the hands
    snap; grab; snatch.
    • Mays made the catch with his back to the plate
    • he made a grab for the ball before it landed
    • Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away
    • the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion
  10. noun the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
    taking into custody; apprehension; pinch; arrest; collar.
    • the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
  11. verb discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
    • She caught her son eating candy
    • She was caught shoplifting
  12. verb perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
    pick up.
    • I caught the aroma of coffee
    • He caught the allusion in her glance
    • ears open to catch every sound
    • The dog picked up the scent
    • Catch a glimpse
  13. verb reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
    get.
    • the rock caught her in the back of the head
    • The blow got him in the back
    • The punch caught him in the stomach
  14. verb take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
    grab; take hold of.
    • Catch the ball!
    • Grab the elevator door!
  15. verb succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
    capture; get.
    • We finally got the suspect
    • Did you catch the thief?
  16. verb to hook or entangle
    hitch.
    • One foot caught in the stirrup
  17. verb attract and fix
    arrest; get.
    • His look caught her
    • She caught his eye
    • Catch the attention of the waiter
  18. verb capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping
    capture.
    • I caught a rabbit in the trap today
  19. verb reach in time
    • I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock
  20. verb get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly
    • Catch some sleep
    • catch one's breath
  21. verb catch up with and possibly overtake
    catch up with; overtake.
    • The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp
  22. verb be struck or affected by
    • catch fire
    • catch the mood
  23. verb check oneself during an action
    • She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind
  24. verb hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
    overhear; take in.
    • We overheard the conversation at the next table
  25. verb see or watch
    see; watch; take in; view.
    • view a show on television
    • This program will be seen all over the world
    • view an exhibition
    • Catch a show on Broadway
    • see a movie
  26. verb cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled
    • I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles
  27. verb detect a blunder or misstep
    trip up.
    • The reporter tripped up the senator
  28. verb grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of
    get.
    • did you catch that allusion?
    • We caught something of his theory in the lecture
    • don't catch your meaning
    • did you get it?
    • She didn't get the joke
    • I just don't get him
  29. verb contract
    • did you catch a cold?
  30. verb start burning
    • The fire caught
  31. verb perceive by hearing
    get.
    • I didn't catch your name
    • She didn't get his name when they met the first time
  32. verb suffer from the receipt of
    get.
    • She will catch hell for this behavior!
  33. verb attract; cause to be enamored
    capture; entrance; bewitch; fascinate; enamour; trance; captivate; beguile; charm; becharm; enchant; enamor.
    • She captured all the men's hearts
  34. verb apprehend and reproduce accurately
    get.
    • She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings
    • She got the mood just right in her photographs
  35. verb take in and retain
    • We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater
  36. verb spread or be communicated
    • The fashion did not catch
  37. verb be the catcher
    • Who is catching?
  38. verb become aware of
    • he caught her staring out the window
  39. verb delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned
    • I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting

WordNet

Catch transitive verb
Etymology
OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Caught ∨ Catched ; present participle & verbal noun Catching Catched is rarely used
Definitions
  1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.
  2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued . . . and caught him." Judg. i. 6.
  3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.
  4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". Mark xii. 13.
  5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." Tennyson.
  6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.
  7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm.
    The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.
  8. To get possession of; to attain.
    Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.
  9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.
  10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.
  11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.
Catch intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To attain possession. Obs.
    Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.
  2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.
  3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.
  4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.
    Does the sedition catch from man to man? Addison.
Catch noun
Definitions
  1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.
  2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.
  3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. Archaic Addison.
    The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.
  4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.
    Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. Shak.
  5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. Colloq. Marryat.
  6. pl. Passing opportunities seized; snatches.
    It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.
  7. A slight remembrance; a trace.
    We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.
  8. (Mus.) A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

Webster 1913