catch

Definitions

1. 1transitive verb

   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. 2transitive verb

   To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief.

3. 3transitive verb

   To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.

4. 4transitive verb

   Hence: To insnare; to entangle.

5. 5transitive verb

   To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody.

6. 6transitive verb

   To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.

7. 7transitive verb

   To engage and attach; to please; to charm.

8. 8transitive verb

   To get possession of; to attain.

9. 9transitive verb

   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. 10transitive verb

    To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.

11. 11transitive verb

    To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.

12. 12intransitive verb

    To attain possession.

13. 13intransitive verb

    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.

14. 14intransitive verb

    To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.

15. 15intransitive verb

    To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.

16. 16noun

    Act of seizing; a grasp.

17. 17noun

    That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

18. 18noun

    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.

19. 19noun

    That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.

20. 20noun

    Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony.

21. 21noun

    Passing opportunities seized; snatches.

22. 22noun

    A slight remembrance; a trace.

23. 23noun

    A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

24. 24noun

    the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

    "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"

    Synonyms

    apprehensionarrestcollarpinch
25. 25noun

    the act of catching an object with the hands

    "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"

    "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"

    Synonyms

    grabsnapsnatch
26. 26noun

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

    "he played catch with his son in the backyard"

27. 27noun

    a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

28. 28noun

    a restraint that checks the motion of something

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

    Synonyms

    stop
29. 29noun

    a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

    "it sounds good but what's the catch?"

    Synonyms

    gimmick
30. 30noun

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

31. 31noun

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

    "he shared his catch with the others"

32. 32noun

    a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

    Synonyms

    match
33. 33noun

    the quantity that was caught

    "the catch was only 10 fish"

    Synonyms

    haul
34. 34verb

    contract

    "did you catch a cold?"

35. 35verb

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

    "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"

36. 36verb

    be struck or affected by

    "catch fire"

    "catch the mood"

37. 37verb

    grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

    "did you catch that allusion?"

    "We caught something of his theory in the lecture"

    Synonyms

    get
38. 38verb

    detect a blunder or misstep

    "The reporter tripped up the senator"

39. 39verb

    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"

40. 40verb

    become aware of

    "he caught her staring out the window"

41. 41verb

    be the catcher

    "Who is catching?"

42. 42verb

    catch up with and possibly overtake

    "The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp"

    Synonyms

    overtake
43. 43verb

    succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

    "We finally got the suspect"

    "Did you catch the thief?"

    Synonyms

    captureget
44. 44verb

    to hook or entangle

    "One foot caught in the stirrup"

    Synonyms

    hitch
45. 45verb

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

    "I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"

46. 46verb

    spread or be communicated

    "The fashion did not catch"

47. 47verb

    reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

    "the rock caught her in the back of the head"

    "The blow got him in the back"

    Synonyms

    get
48. 48verb

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

    "Catch the ball!"

    "Grab the elevator door!"

    Synonyms

    grab
49. 49verb

    capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping

    "I caught a rabbit in the trap today"

    Synonyms

    capture
50. 50verb

    take in and retain

    "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"

51. 51verb

    attract and fix

    "His look caught her"

    "She caught his eye"

    Synonyms

    arrestget
52. 52verb

    apprehend and reproduce accurately

    "She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings"

    "She got the mood just right in her photographs"

    Synonyms

    get
53. 53verb

    attract; cause to be enamored

    "She captured all the men's hearts"

    Synonyms

    becharmbeguilebewitchcaptivatecapturecharmenamorenamourenchantentrancefascinatetrance
54. 54verb

    reach in time

    "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"

55. 55verb

    suffer from the receipt of

    "She will catch hell for this behavior!"

    Synonyms

    get
56. 56verb

    perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily

    "I caught the aroma of coffee"

    "He caught the allusion in her glance"

57. 57verb

    See or watch

    "view a show on television"

    "This program will be seen all over the world"

    Synonyms

    seeviewwatch
58. 58verb

    hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

    "We overheard the conversation at the next table"

    Synonyms

    overhear
59. 59verb

    perceive by hearing

    "I didn't catch your name"

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

    Synonyms

    get
60. 60verb

    get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly

    "Catch some sleep"

    "catch one's breath"

61. 61verb

    check oneself during an action

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

62. 62verb

    start burning

    "The fire caught"