Definition of Catch

Verb: catch (caught) kach

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"
Perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
"I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "Catch a glimpse";
- pick up
Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
"the rock caught her in the back of the head"; "The punch caught him in the stomach";
- get
Take hold of so as to seize, restrain or stop the motion of
"Catch the ball!";
- grab, take hold of
Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
"Did you catch the thief?";
- get, capture
To hook or entangle
"One foot caught in the stirrup";
- hitch
Attract and fix
"His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter";
- arrest, get
Capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping
"I caught a rabbit in the trap today";
- capture
Reach in time
"I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"
Get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly
"Catch some sleep"; "catch one's breath"
Catch up with and possibly overtake
"The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp";
- overtake, catch up with
Be struck or affected by
"catch fire"; "catch the mood"
Check oneself during an action
"She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"
Hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
"We caught the conversation at the next table";
- take in, overhear
Look at and follow all (or part of) something being shown or performed
"Catch a show on Broadway";
- watch, view, see, take in
Cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled
"I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"
Detect a blunder or misstep
"The reporter caught the senator";
- trip up
Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of
"did you catch that allusion?"; "We caught something of his theory in the lecture"; "don't catch your meaning";
- get
Contract
"did you catch a cold?"
Start burning
"The fire caught"
Perceive by hearing
"I didn't catch your name";
- get
Suffer from the receipt of
"She will catch hell for this behaviour!";
- get
Attract; cause to be enamoured
"She caught all the men's hearts";
- capture, enamour [Brit, Cdn], trance, becharm [archaic], enamor [US], captivate, beguile, charm, fascinate, bewitch, entrance, enchant
Apprehend and reproduce accurately
"She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings";
- get
Take in and retain
"We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"
Spread or be communicated
"The fashion did not catch"
(baseball) be the catcher
"Who is catching?"
Become aware of
"he caught her staring out the window"
Delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned
"I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"

Noun: catch kach

A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident
"it sounds good but what's the catch?";
- gimmick
The quantity that was caught
"the catch was only 10 fish";
- haul
A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
- match
Anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching)
"he shared his catch with the others"
A break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)
A restraint that checks the motion of something
"he used a book as a catch to hold the door open";
- stop
A fastener that fastens or locks a door or window
A cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth
"he played catch with his son in the backyard"
The act of catching an object with the hands
"Mays made the catch with his back to the plate";
- grab, snatch, snap
The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
"the policeman on the beat got credit for the catch";
- apprehension, arrest, collar, pinch, taking into custody