catch

catch [kach, kech]

vt.

caught, catching [ME cacchen < Anglo-Fr cachier < VL * captiare < L captare, to seize < pp. of capere, to take hold: see HAVE]

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]

8.

a) to take or get as by chance or quickly [to catch someone's attention, to catch a glimpse]

b) 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]

10.

a) to take in with one's mind or senses; understand; apprehend

b) 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.)

vi.

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

n.

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

adj.

1. designed to trick; tricky [a catch question on an exam]

2. attracting or meant to attract attention or interest

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catch as catch can

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

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catch at

1. to try to catch

2. to reach for eagerly; seize desperately

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catch it

Informal to receive a scolding or other punishment

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☆ catch on

1. to grasp the meaning; understand

2. to become fashionable or popular

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catch oneself

to hold oneself back abruptly from saying or doing something

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catch out

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

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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

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catch up on

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

SYN.- CATCH, the most general term here, refers to a seizing or taking of a person or thing, whether by skill or cunning, and usually implies pursuit; CAPTURE stresses seizure by force or stratagem [to capture an outlaw ]; NAB, an informal word, specifically implies a sudden or quick taking into custody [the police nabbed the thief ]; TRAP¹ and SNARE both imply the literal or figurative use of a device for catching a person or animal and suggest a situation from which escape is difficult or impossible [to trap a bear, snared by their false promises ]