catch

Speech parts

1. catch - Noun

2. catch - Verb

Meaning

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.

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

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

Hence: To insnare; to entangle.

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

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

To engage and attach; to please; to charm.

To get possession of; to attain.

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.

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

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

To attain possession.

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.

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

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

Act of seizing; a grasp.

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

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.

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

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

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

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

get capture grab snatch take find stop arrest pick up grasp collar snare haul hitch contract
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Antonyms

release drop miss free give success
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Hypernyms

control see take game change play

Hyponyms

harpoon work run get fish hold

Phrases with the word

catch up catch-22 catch a cold catch napping catch someone's eye catch you later

Derivatives

caught catched catching

Examples

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it. Confucius

The devil's snare does not catch you, unless you are first caught by the devil's bait. Ambrose

Laws are like Cobwebs which may catch small Flies, but let Wasps and Hornets break through. Jonathan Swift

High trees catch lots of wind. Dutch Proverb

The eagle does not catch flies. Latin Proverb

Cats don't catch the old birds. Dutch Proverb

Close letter words and terms

catcaller catcalling catcatcher CATCH 22 syndrome catch a ball catch a body