CATCH (caught)

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does catch mean? 

• CATCH (noun)
  The noun CATCH has 10 senses:

1. a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

2. the quantity that was caught

3. a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

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

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

6. a restraint that checks the motion of something

7. a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

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

9. the act of catching an object with the hands

10. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

  Familiarity information: CATCH used as a noun is familiar.

• CATCH (verb)
  The verb CATCH has 29 senses:

1. discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

2. perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily

3. reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

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

5. succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

6. to hook or entangle

7. attract and fix

8. capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping

9. reach in time

10. get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly

11. catch up with and possibly overtake

12. be struck or affected by

13. check oneself during an action

14. hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

15. see or watch

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

17. detect a blunder or misstep

18. grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

19. contract

20. start burning

21. perceive by hearing

22. suffer from the receipt of

23. attract; cause to be enamored

24. apprehend and reproduce accurately

25. take in and retain

26. spread or be communicated

27. be the catcher

28. become aware of

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

  Familiarity information: CATCH used as a verb is very familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CATCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

catch; gimmick

Context example:

it sounds good but what's the catch?

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

drawback (the quality of being a hindrance)

Derivation:

catchy (having concealed difficulty)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quantity that was caught

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

catch; haul

Context example:

the catch was only 10 fish

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

indefinite quantity (an estimated quantity)

Derivation:

catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

catch; match

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)

Derivation:

catch (attract; cause to be enamored)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Context example:

he shared his catch with the others

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Sense 5

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

delivery; manner of speaking; speech (your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A restraint that checks the motion of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

catch; stop

Context example:

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

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

constraint; restraint (a device that retards something's motion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

bench hook (any of various stops on a workbench against which work can be pushed (as while chiseling or planing))

doorstop; doorstopper (a stop that keeps open doors from moving)

click; detent; dog; pawl (a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward)

trip; tripper (a catch mechanism that acts as a switch)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

hasp (a fastener for a door or lid; a hinged metal plate is fitted over a staple and is locked with a pin or padlock)

hood latch (a catch that holds the hood of a car shut)

hook (a catch for locking a door)

latch (catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove)

Derivation:

catch (to hook or entangle)

Sense 8

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he played catch with his son in the backyard

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

game (an amusement or pastime)

Sense 9

Meaning:

The act of catching an object with the hands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

catch; grab; snap; snatch

Context example:

the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "catch"):

interception ((American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team)

fair catch ((American football) a catch of a punt on the fly by a defensive player who has signalled that he will not run and so should not be tackled)

interlock; interlocking; mesh; meshing (the act of interlocking or meshing)

shoestring catch ((baseball) a running catch made near the ground)

rebound (the act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot)

reception ((American football) the act of catching a pass in football)

Derivation:

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

Sense 10

Meaning:

The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

apprehension; arrest; catch; collar; pinch; taking into custody

Context example:

the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar

Hypernyms ("catch" is a kind of...):

capture; gaining control; seizure (the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property)

Derivation:

catch (succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase)

• CATCH (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

She was caught shoplifting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

surprise (cause to be surprised)

Verb group:

catch (become aware of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; pick up

Context example:

Catch a glimpse

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

The punch caught him in the stomach

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

catch; grab; take hold of

Context example:

Grab the elevator door!

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Verb group:

catch (be the catcher)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

fish (catch or try to catch fish or shellfish)

hook (catch with a hook)

net; nett (catch with a net)

intercept; stop (seize on its way)

harpoon (spear with a harpoon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Also:

catch up (reach the point where one should be after a delay)

Derivation:

catch (the act of catching an object with the hands)

catcher (the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws)

catcher ((baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

capture; catch; get

Context example:

Did you catch the thief?

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

recapture; retake (capture again)

lasso; rope (catch with a lasso)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

catch (the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal))

Sense 6

Meaning:

To hook or entangle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

catch; hitch

Context example:

One foot caught in the stirrup

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Verb group:

catch (cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

snag (catch on a snag)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

catch (a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Attract and fix

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

arrest; catch; get

Context example:

Catch the attention of the waiter

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

capture; catch

Context example:

I caught a rabbit in the trap today

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Verb group:

catch (take in and retain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

batfowl (catch birds by temporarily blinding them)

ensnare; entrap; snare; trammel; trap (catch in or as if in a trap)

rat (catch rats, especially with dogs)

bag (capture or kill, as in hunting)

frog (hunt frogs for food)

hunt; hunt down; run; track down (pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

catch (the quantity that was caught)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Reach in time

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

board; get on (get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.))

Verb group:

catch; catch up with; overtake (catch up with and possibly overtake)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

get (reach and board)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

catch one's breath

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Catch up with and possibly overtake

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

catch; catch up with; overtake

Context example:

The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp

"Catch" entails doing...:

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Verb group:

catch (reach in time)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Be struck or affected by

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

catch the mood

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

catch; get (suffer from the receipt of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 13

Meaning:

Check oneself during an action

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

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

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 14

Meaning:

Hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; overhear; take in

Context example:

We overheard the conversation at the next table

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)

"Catch" entails doing...:

listen (hear with intention)

Verb group:

catch; get (perceive by hearing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE

Sense 15

Meaning:

See or watch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; see; take in; view; watch

Context example:

see a movie

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

watch (look attentively)

Verb group:

see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

visualise; visualize (view the outline of by means of an X-ray)

spectate (be a spectator in a sports event)

preview (watch (a movie or play) before it is released to the general public)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue catch the movie

Sense 16

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles

Verb group:

catch; hitch (to hook or entangle)

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 17

Meaning:

Detect a blunder or misstep

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

catch; trip up

Context example:

The reporter tripped up the senator

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see (get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 18

Meaning:

Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

I just don't get him

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Verb group:

catch; get (apprehend and reproduce accurately)

get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 19

Meaning:

Contract

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

did you catch a cold?

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

contract; get; take (be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness)

Verb group:

contract; get; take (be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

catch cold (come down with a cold)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 20

Meaning:

Start burning

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Context example:

The fire caught

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

catch fire; combust; conflagrate; erupt; ignite; take fire (start to burn or burst into flames)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 21

Meaning:

Perceive by hearing

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

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

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)

Verb group:

catch; overhear; take in (hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 22

Meaning:

Suffer from the receipt of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

She will catch hell for this behavior!

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)

Verb group:

catch (be struck or affected by)

get; receive (receive as a retribution or punishment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 23

Meaning:

Attract; cause to be enamored

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance

Context example:

She captured all the men's hearts

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

appeal; attract (be attractive to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "catch"):

hold (hold the attention of)

work (gratify and charm, usually in order to influence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

catch (a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect)

Sense 24

Meaning:

Apprehend and reproduce accurately

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

She got the mood just right in her photographs

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

reproduce (recreate a sound, image, idea, mood, atmosphere, etc.)

Verb group:

catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 25

Meaning:

Take in and retain

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

accumulate; amass; collect; compile; hoard; pile up; roll up (get or gather together)

Verb group:

capture; catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

catchment (a structure in which water is collected (especially a natural drainage area))

Sense 26

Meaning:

Spread or be communicated

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The fashion did not catch

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

propagate; spread (become distributed or widespread)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 27

Meaning:

Be the catcher

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

Who is catching?

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

play (participate in games or sport)

Verb group:

catch; grab; take hold of (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

catcher ((baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher)

Sense 28

Meaning:

Become aware of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

he caught her staring out the window

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

find; see; witness (perceive or be contemporaneous with)

Verb group:

catch (discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 29

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting

Hypernyms (to "catch" is one way to...):

delay; detain; hold up (cause to be slowed down or delayed)

Verb group:

catch (cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Sir George Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the coronet, and his opponent at the other.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed policemen outside.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then the woman began to fall. Then the man. I did not fall, but my feet were heavy and I caught my toes and stumbled many times.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But I was after him in an instant and caught him by the sleeve.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Gimme a match an' I'll catch the next car home.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She caught on to my meaning at once, and settled that matter in a word.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The jerks perceptibly diminished; as the sled gained momentum, he caught them up, till it was moving steadily along.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

This was only when we were in the act of entering his room, and when I caught a glance at him over my aunt's shoulder.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I could scarcely catch my breath, so fiercely was I impelled through the heavens.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You don't catch me tasting rum so much, but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the first chance I have.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)