1. catch(n = noun.attribute) gimmick - a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident; "it sounds good but what's the catch?"
Derived form adjective catchy1
2. catch(n = noun.quantity) haul - the quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish"
Derived form verb catch8
3. catch(n = noun.person) match - a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect;
Derived form verb catch23
4. catch(n = noun.object) - anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching); "he shared his catch with the others"
5. catch(n = noun.communication) - a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion);
6. catch(n = noun.artifact) stop - a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open"
7. catch(n = noun.artifact) - a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window;
Derived form verb catch6
8. catch(n = noun.act) - a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth; "he played catch with his son in the backyard"
9. catch(n = noun.act) grab, snap, snatch - the act of catching an object with the hands; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion"
Derived form verb catch4
10. catch(n = noun.act) apprehension, arrest, collar, pinch, taking into custody - the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
Derived form verb catch5
1. catch(v = verb.cognition) - 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"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody
2. catch(v = verb.perception) pick up - perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily; "Catch a glimpse"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "The dog picked up the scent"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
3. catch(v = verb.contact) get - reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot; "The blow got him in the back"; "The punch caught him in the stomach"; "the rock caught her in the back of the head"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s something; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something
4. catch(v = verb.contact) grab, take hold of - take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of; "Catch the ball!"; "Grab the elevator door!"
Derived form noun catch9, noun catcher1, noun catcher2
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s something; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something
5. catch(v = verb.contact) capture, get - succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase; "Did you catch the thief?"; "We finally got the suspect"
Derived form noun catch10
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s something
6. catch(v = verb.contact) hitch - to hook or entangle; "One foot caught in the stirrup"
Derived form noun catch7
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something PP
7. catch(v = verb.contact) arrest, get - attract and fix; "Catch the attention of the waiter"; "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s something; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something
8. catch(v = verb.contact) capture - capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap today"
Derived form noun catch2
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
9. catch(v = verb.motion) - reach in time; "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
10. catch(v = verb.possession) - get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly; "catch one's breath"; "Catch some sleep"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
11. catch(v = verb.competition) catch up with, overtake - catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s something
12. catch(v = verb.change) - be struck or affected by; "catch fire"; "catch the mood"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something
13. catch(v = verb.social) - check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody
14. catch(v = verb.perception) overhear, take in - hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We overheard the conversation at the next table"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE; Somebody ----s something
15. catch(v = verb.perception) see, take in, view, watch - see or watch; "Catch a show on Broadway"; "see a movie"; "This program will be seen all over the world"; "view a show on television"; "view an exhibition"
Sample sentences:
Sam and Sue %s the movie
16. catch(v = verb.contact) - cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled; "I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something PP
17. catch(v = verb.cognition) trip up - detect a blunder or misstep; "The reporter tripped up the senator"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody
18. catch(v = verb.cognition) get - grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of; "did you catch that allusion?"; "did you get it?"; "don't catch your meaning"; "I just don't get him"; "She didn't get the joke"; "We caught something of his theory in the lecture"
Sample sentences:
Something ----s
19. catch(v = verb.body) - contract; "did you catch a cold?"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
20. catch(v = verb.weather) - start burning; "The fire caught"
Sample sentences:
Something ----s
21. catch(v = verb.perception) get - perceive by hearing; "I didn't catch your name"; "She didn't get his name when they met the first time"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
22. catch(v = verb.perception) get - suffer from the receipt of; "She will catch hell for this behavior!"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
23. catch(v = verb.emotion) becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, capture, charm, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, trance - attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's hearts"
Derived form noun catch3
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody
24. catch(v = verb.creation) get - apprehend and reproduce accurately; "She got the mood just right in her photographs"; "She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something
25. catch(v = verb.contact) - take in and retain; "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"
Derived form noun catchment1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something
26. catch(v = verb.contact) - spread or be communicated; "The fashion did not catch"
Sample sentences:
Something ----s
27. catch(v = verb.competition) - be the catcher; "Who is catching?"
Derived form noun catcher1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s
28. catch(v = verb.cognition) - become aware of; "he caught her staring out the window"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s something
29. catch(v = verb.change) - delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned; "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"
Sample sentences:
Something ----s somebody
1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding;
2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest;
3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook;
4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. Mark xii. 13. [1913 Webster]
5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend;
6. To communicate to; to fasten upon;
7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm. [1913 Webster]
8. To get possession of; to attain. [1913 Webster]
9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure;
10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find;
11. To reach in time; to come up with;
1. To attain possession. [1913 Webster]
2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction;
3. To take hold;
4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate. [1913 Webster]
1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened;
3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize;
4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time;
5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. Marryat. [1913 Webster]
6. Passing opportunities seized; snatches. [1913 Webster]
7. A slight remembrance; a trace. [1913 Webster]
8. A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words. [1913 Webster]
catch, v. & n.
--v. (past and past part. caught)
1 tr. a lay hold of so as to restrain or prevent from escaping; capture in a trap, in one's hands, etc. b (also catch hold of) get into one's hands so as to retain, operate, etc. (caught hold of the handle).
2 tr. detect or surprise (a person, esp. in a wrongful or embarrassing act) (caught me in the act; caught him smoking).
3 tr. a intercept and hold (a moving thing) in the hands etc. (failed to catch the ball; a bowl to catch the drips). b Cricket dismiss (a batsman) by catching the ball before it reaches the ground.
4 tr. a contract (a disease) by infection or contagion. b acquire (a quality or feeling) from another's example (caught her enthusiasm).
5 tr. a reach in time and board (a train, bus, etc.). b be in time to see etc. (a person or thing about to leave or finish) (if you hurry you'll catch them; caught the end of the performance).
6 tr. a apprehend with the senses or the mind (esp. a thing occurring quickly or briefly) (didn't catch what he said). b (of an artist etc.) reproduce faithfully.
7 a intr. become fixed or entangled; be checked (the bolt began to catch). b tr. cause to do this (caught her tights on a nail). c tr. (often foll. by on) hit, deal a blow to (caught him on the nose; caught his elbow on the table).
8 tr. draw the attention of; captivate (caught his eye; caught her fancy).
9 intr. begin to burn.
10 tr. (often foll. by up) reach or overtake (a person etc. ahead).
11 tr. check suddenly (caught his breath).
12 tr. (foll. by at) grasp or try to grasp.
--n.
1 a an act of catching. b Cricket a chance or act of catching the ball.
2 a an amount of a thing caught, esp. of fish. b a thing or person caught or worth catching, esp. in marriage.
3 a a question, trick, etc., intended to deceive, incriminate, etc. b an unexpected or hidden difficulty or disadvantage.
4 a device for fastening a door or window etc.
5 Mus. a round, esp. with words arranged to produce a humorous effect.
Idiom:
catch-all (often attrib.) a thing designed to be all-inclusive. catch-as-catch-can a style of wrestling with few holds barred. catch at a straw see STRAW. catch crop a crop grown between two staple crops (in position or time). catch one's death see DEATH. catch fire see FIRE. catch it sl. be punished or in trouble. catch me! etc. (often foll. by pres. part.) colloq. you may be sure I etc. shall not. catch on colloq.
1 (of a practice, fashion, etc.) become popular.
2 (of a person) understand what is meant.
catch out
1 detect in a mistake etc.
2 take unawares; cause to be bewildered or confused.
3 = sense 3b of v. catch-phrase a phrase in frequent use.
catch the sun
1 be in a sunny position.
2 become sunburnt.
catch up
1 a (often foll. by with) reach a person etc. ahead (he caught up in the end; he caught us up; he caught up with us). b (often foll. by with, on) make up arrears (of work etc.) (must catch up with my correspondence).
2 snatch or pick up hurriedly.
3 (often in passive) a involve; entangle (caught up in suspicious dealings). b fasten up (hair caught up in a ribbon).
Derivative:
catchable adj.
Etymology:
ME f. AF & ONF cachier, OF chacier, ult. f. L captare try to catch
VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.
N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.
VB receive, take, acquire, admit, take in, catch, touch, pocket, put into one's pocket, put into one's purse, accept, take off one's hands, be received, come in, come to hand, pass into one's hand, fall into one's hand, go into one's pocket, fall to one's lot, fall to one's share, come to one, fall to one, accrue, have given to one.
N taking, reception, deglutition, appropriation, prehension, prensation, capture, caption, apprehension, deprehension, abreption, seizure, expropriation, abduction, ablation, subtraction, withdrawal, abstraction, ademption, adrolepsy, dispossession, deprivation, deprivement, bereavement, divestment, disherison, distraint, distress, sequestration, confiscation, eviction, rapacity, rapaciousness, extortion, vampirism, theft, resumption, reprise, reprisal, recovery, clutch, swoop, wrench, grip, haul, take, catch, scramble, taker, captor, subduction, taking, privative, prehensile, predaceous, predal, predatory, predatorial, lupine, rapacious, raptorial, ravenous, parasitic, bereft, at one fell swoop, give an inch and take an ell.
VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.
N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.
VB hear, overhear, hark, harken, list, listen, pay attention, take heed, give an ear, lend an ear, bend an ear, catch, catch a sound, prick up one's ears, give ear, give a hearing, give audience to, hang upon the lips of, be all ears, listen with both ears, become audible, meet the ear, fall upon the ear, catch the ear, reach the ear, be heard, ring in the ear.
N qualification, limitation, modification, coloring, allowance, grains of allowance, consideration, extenuating circumstances, mitigation, condition, proviso, prerequisite, contingency, stipulation, provision, specification, sine qua non, catch, string, strings attached, exemption, exception, escape clause, salvo, saving clause, discount, restriction, fine print, qualifying, qualified, conditioned, restricted, hedged, conditional, exceptional, hypothetical, contingent, provided, provided that, provided always, if, unless, but, yet, according as, conditionally, admitting, supposing, on the supposition of, with the understanding, even, although, though, for all that, after all, at all events, approximately, in a limited degree (smallness), somewhat, sort of, something like that, to a certain extent, to a degree, in a sense, so to speak, with grains of allowance, cum grano salis, with a grain of salt, exceptis excipiendis, wind and weather permitting, if possible, subject to, conditioned upon, with this proviso, if the good lord is willing and the creeks don't r, catch-, Degrees of Evidence.
VB discover, find, determine, evolve, learn, fix upon, pick up, find out, trace out, make out, hunt out, fish out, worm out, ferret out, root out, fathom, bring out, draw out, educe, elicit, bring to light, dig out, grub up, fish up, unearth, disinter, solve, resolve, elucidate, unriddle, unravel, unlock, crack, crack open, pick up, open the lock, find a clue, find clew a to, find the key to the riddle, interpret, disclose, trace, get at, hit it, have it, lay one's finger, lay one's hands upon, spot, get at the truth, arrive at the truth, put the saddle on the right horse, hit the right nail on the head, be near the truth, be warm, get warmer, burn, smoke, scent, sniff, catch a whiff of, smell a rat, open the eyes to, see through, see daylight, see in its true colors, see the cloven foot, detect, catch, catch tripping, pitch upon, fall upon, light upon, hit upon, stumble upon, pop upon, come across, come onto, meet with, meet up with, fall in with, recognize, realize, verify, make certain of, identify, Int, eureka!, aha!, I've got it!.
VB be intelligible, speak for itself, speak volumes, tell its own tale, lie on the surface, render intelligible, popularize, simplify, clear up, elucidate, understand, comprehend, take, take in, catch, grasp, follow, collect, master, make out, see with half an eye, see daylight, see one's way, enter into the ideas of, come to an understanding.
N deception, falseness, untruth, imposition, imposture, fraud, deceit, guile, fraudulence, fraudulency, covin, knavery, misrepresentation, bluff, straw-bail, straw bid, spoof, delusion, gullery, juggling, jugglery, slight of hand, legerdemain, prestigiation, prestidigitation, magic, conjuring, conjuration, hocus-pocus, escamoterie, jockeyship, trickery, coggery, chicanery, supercherie, cozenage, circumvention, ingannation, collusion, treachery, practical joke, trick, cheat, wile, blind, feint, plant, bubble, fetch, catch, chicane, juggle, reach, hocus, bite, card sharping, stacked deck, loaded dice, quick shuffle, double dealing, dealing seconds, dealing from the bottom of the deck, artful dodge, swindle, tricks upon travelers, stratagem, confidence trick, fake, hoax, theft, ballot-box stuffing, barney, brace game, bunko game, drop game, gum game, panel game, shell game, thimblerig, skin game, snare, trap, pitfall, decoy, gin, springe, springle, noose, hoot, bait, decoy-duck, tub to the whale, baited trap, guet-a-pens, cobweb, net, meshes, toils, mouse trap, birdlime, dionaea, Venus's flytrap, ambush, trapdoor, sliding panel, false bottom, spring-net, spring net, spring gun, mask, masked battery, mine, flytrap, green goods, panel house, Cornish hug, wolf in sheep's clothing, disguise, disguisement, false colors, masquerade, mummery, borrowed plumes, pattes de velours, mockery, copy, counterfeit, sham, make- believe, forgery, fraud, lie, a delusion a mockery and a snare, hollow mockery, whited sepulcher, painted sepulcher, tinsel, paste, junk jewelry, costume jewelry, false jewelry, synthetic jewels, scagliola, ormolu, German silver, albata, paktong, white metal, Britannia metal, paint, veneer, jerry building, man of straw, illusion, ignis fatuus, mirage, deceived, deceiving, cunning, prestigious, prestigiatory, deceptive, deceptious, deceitful, covinous, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, elusive, insidious, ad captandum vulgus, untrue, mock, sham, make-believe, counterfeit, snide, pseudo, spurious, supposititious, so-called, pretended, feigned, trumped up, bogus, scamped, fraudulent, tricky, factitious bastard, surreptitious, illegitimate, contraband, adulterated, sophisticated, unsound, rotten at the core, colorable, disguised, meretricious, tinsel, pinchbeck, plated, catchpenny, Brummagem, artificial, synthetic, ersatz, simulated, under false colors, under the garb of, under cover of, over the left, keep the word of promise to the ear and break it t, fronti nulla fides, ah that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, a quicksand of deceit, decipimur specie recti, falsi crimen, fraus est celare fraudem, lupus in fabula, so smooth, he daubed his vice with show of virtue.
VB deceive, take in, defraud, cheat, jockey, do, cozen, diddle, nab, chouse, play one false, bilk, cully, jilt, bite, pluck, swindle, victimize, abuse, mystify, blind one's eyes, blindfold, hoodwink, throw dust into the eyes, dupe, gull, hoax, fool, befool, bamboozle, flimflam, hornswoggle, trick, impose upon, practice upon, play upon, put upon, palm off on, palm upon, foist upon, snatch a verdict, bluff off, bluff, bunko, four flush, gum, spoof, stuff (a ballot box), circumvent, overreach, outreach, out wit, out maneuver, steal a march upon, give the go-by, to leave in the lurch decoy, waylay, lure, beguile, delude, inveigle, entrap, intrap, ensnare, nick, springe, set a trap, lay a trap, lay a snare for, bait the hook, forelay, spread the toils, lime, trapan, trepan, kidnap, let in, hook in, nousle, nousel, blind a trail, enmesh, immesh, shanghai, catch, catch in a trap, sniggle, entangle, illaqueate, hocus, escamoter, practice on one's credulity, hum, humbug, gammon, stuff up, sell, play a trick upon one, play a practical joke upon one, put something over on one, put one over on, balk, trip up, throw a tub to a whale, fool to the top of one's bent, send on a fool's errand, make game, make a fool of, make an April fool of, make an ass of, trifle with, cajole, flatter, come over, gild the pill, make things pleasant, divert, put a good face upon, dissemble, cog, cog the dice, load the dice, stack the deck, live by one's wits, play at hide and seek, obtain money under false pretenses, conjure, juggle, practice chicanery, deacon, play off, palm off, foist off, fob-off, lie, misinform, mislead, betray, be deceived.