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v. caught (kôt), catch·ing, catch·es v.tr. 1. a. To get and hold (something that has been in motion) in a hand, the hands, a container, or an implement: caught the ball in the web of the lacrosse stick. b. To take hold of, especially forcibly or suddenly; grasp: caught me by the arm; caught the reins. c. To stop (oneself) from doing an action: I caught myself before replying. 2. a. To capture or seize, especially after a chase: The police caught the robber in the next town. b. To capture or take by trapping, snaring, or some other means: I caught three fish with that lure. c. To take in and hold or contain: a pond that catches runoff. 3. a. To discover or come upon suddenly, unexpectedly, or accidentally: He was caught in the act of stealing. b. To become cognizant or aware of suddenly: caught her gazing out the window. 4. a. To reach just in time; get so as to be carried by: caught the bus to town; catch a wave. b. To overtake: The driver of the green car caught the leader on the straightaway. 5. a. To cause to become hooked, entangled, or fastened: caught my hem on the stair. b. To hold up; delay: was caught in traffic for an hour. 6. a. To make contact with; strike: The boxer caught his opponent with a left hook. b. To propel an object so that it hits (something): The center caught the back of the net with a hard shot. 7. a. To become subject to or to contract, as by exposure to a pathogen: catch a cold. b. To become affected by or infused with: caught the joyous mood of the festival. c. To suffer from the receipt of (criticism, for example): caught hell for being late. 8. a. To perceive suddenly or momentarily: We caught a glimpse of the movie star. I caught a whiff of her perfume. b. To hear or listen to: caught the news bulletin on the radio; didn't catch the end of your sentence c. To grasp mentally; apprehend: I don't catch your meaning. 9. a. To go to see (a performance, for example): caught the midnight show. b. To get (something required), usually quickly or for a brief period: catch some sleep. 10. a. To attract and fix; arrest: couldn't catch their attention; caught the teacher's eye. b. To reproduce or represent effectively: an impressionist who caught the effects of wind and water in his paintings. 11. To deceive: failed to be caught by their fraudulent schemes. 12. Baseball To play (a game) as catcher. v.intr. 1. To become held, entangled, or fastened: My coat caught in the car door. 2. To act or move so as to hold or grab someone or something: tried to catch at the life preserver. 3. To be communicable or infectious; spread. 4. To become ignited: The fire caught. 5. Baseball To act as catcher. n. Phrasal Verbs: 1. a. The act of catching, especially the grabbing and holding of a thrown, kicked, or batted ball before it hits the ground. b. A game of throwing and catching a ball. 2. a. A quantity that is caught: The catch amounted to 50 fish. b. Something that is perceived or noticed: The mistake you found was a good catch. c. Informal A person considered to be an attractive or admirable romantic partner. 3. A tricky or previously unsuspected condition or drawback: It sounds like a good offer, but there may be a catch. 4. A device for fastening something or for checking motion: The car's hood has a safety catch. 5. A choking or stoppage of the breath or voice: a catch in his voice. 6. A snatch; a fragment: could only hear catches of the song. 7. Music A canonic, often rhythmically intricate composition for three or more voices, popular especially in the 17th and 18th centuries. catch on 1. To understand something: These students catch on quickly. 2. To become popular: Skateboarding caught on quickly. catch out To detect (another) in wrongdoing or error. catch up Idioms: 1. To move fast enough to attain the same progress as another; draw even: caught up to the leader on the last lap of the race. 2. To become equal or on a par with another: finally caught up with his brother in height. 3. To bring an activity to completion or to a state of currentness: catch up on correspondence. 4. To bring (another) up to date; brief: Let me catch you up on all the gossip. 5. To seize or lift suddenly: The wind caught up the umbrella and carried it off. 6. To involve, often unwillingly: was caught up in the scandal. 7. To captivate; enthrall: I was caught up in the mood of the evening. catch fire 1. To ignite. 2. To become very enthusiastic. 3. To become the subject of great interest and widespread enthusiasm: an idea that caught fire all over the country. catch it Informal To receive a punishment or scolding. catch (one's) breath To rest so as to be able to continue an activity. catch (one's) death To catch a cold or other illness. catch up with 1. To find or arrest after a period of pursuit: The police finally caught up with him in Omaha. 2. To have unpleasant consequences for, especially after a period of quiescence: mistakes that caught up with him when he ran for president. catch you later Informal Used to express good-bye. [Middle English cacchen, from Old North French cachier, to chase, from Vulgar Latin *captiāre; see CHASE1.] catcha·ble adj. Synonyms: catch, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, snare1, trap1 These verbs mean to take in and hold as if by using bait or a lure: caught in a web of lies; enmeshed in the dispute; ensnared an unsuspecting customer; became entangled in her own contradictions; entrapped by a convincing undercover agent; snared by false hopes; trapped into incriminating himself. |
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