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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old North French |
| Origin: | cachier 'to hunt', from Vulgar Latin captiare, from Latin captare 'to try to catch', from capere 'to take' |
Related topics:
1
take and hold
a) [intransitive and transitive] to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air [↪ throw]: 
Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand.'Pass me that pen, would you?' 'Here you are. Catch!' The kids were throwing and catching a frisbee down on the beach.
Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand.'Pass me that pen, would you?' 'Here you are. Catch!'The kids were throwing and catching a frisbee down on the beach.b) [transitive] to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand : He caught her elbow to steady her.
He caught her elbow to steady her.2
find/stop somebody
[transitive]a) to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away : 'You can't catch me!' she yelled, running away.
'You can't catch me!' she yelled, running away.b) to find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping [= capture]: State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer.
State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer.3 to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing
see somebody doing something
[transitive] catch somebody doing something I caught him reading my private letters. Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently.
I caught him reading my private letters.Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently. catch somebody in the act (of doing something) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal) The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes.
The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes.4 to get an infectious disease : Anton caught malaria in Mali, and nearly died. Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught.
illness
[transitive]Anton caught malaria in Mali, and nearly died.Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught. catch something from/off somebody/something Typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies. I caught chicken pox off my friend at school.
Typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies.I caught chicken pox off my friend at school. catch your death (of cold) British English spoken (=get a very bad cold) Don't stand out in the rain. You'll catch your death.
Don't stand out in the rain. You'll catch your death.5 to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it : Her question caught him off guard.
catch somebody by surprise/catch somebody off guard
also catch somebody napping/unawares, catch somebody on the hop British EnglishHer question caught him off guard.6 to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done : He's not the first politician to be caught with his pants down, and he won't be the last.
catch somebody with their pants/trousers down
He's not the first politician to be caught with his pants down, and he won't be the last.7 to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it : Did you catch any fish? Early settlers caught rabbits and squirrels and even rats in order to survive.
animal/fish
[transitive]Did you catch any fish?Early settlers caught rabbits and squirrels and even rats in order to survive.8 to get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves : I caught the 7.15 train to London. There's a train in now. If you run, you'll just catch it.
catch a train/plane/bus
I caught the 7.15 train to London.There's a train in now. If you run, you'll just catch it.9 to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc [≠ miss]: I managed to catch her just as she was leaving. I just caught the last few minutes of the documentary. Tumours like these can be treated quite easily if they're caught early enough.
not miss somebody/something
[transitive]TCMI managed to catch her just as she was leaving.I just caught the last few minutes of the documentary.Tumours like these can be treated quite easily if they're caught early enough.10 if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally : His overalls caught in the engine.
get stuck
[intransitive and transitive]His overalls caught in the engine.11 to make you notice something and feel interested in it : Lucie whistled sharply to catch the other girl's attention. This is a story that will catch the imagination of every child.
catch somebody's attention/interest/imagination etc
Lucie whistled sharply to catch the other girl's attention.This is a story that will catch the imagination of every child.12 to not hear or understand what someone says : I'm afraid I didn't catch your name.
not catch something
spokenI'm afraid I didn't catch your name.13 to manage to hear a sound : I caught the muffled thud of a car door slamming in the street.
hear
[transitive]I caught the muffled thud of a car door slamming in the street.14 used to say goodbye : 'I'll give you a call in a couple days.' 'Okay. Catch you later.'
catch you later
spoken'I'll give you a call in a couple days.' 'Okay. Catch you later.'15 to go somewhere in order to do or see something : M Records caught his act and signed him immediately.
do/see something
[transitive] spoken especially American EnglishM Records caught his act and signed him immediately.16 to go somewhere in someone else's car : I caught a ride as far as Columbus.
catch a ride
American English spokenI caught a ride as far as Columbus.17 used to say that you would never do something : I love dancing but you won't catch me being the first on the dance floor!
you won't catch me doing something
also you won't catch me somewhere spokenI love dancing but you won't catch me being the first on the dance floor!18 to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong : You'll catch it if Dad finds out.
catch it
informalYou'll catch it if Dad finds out.19 to see someone or something for a very short time : Fans waited for hours at the airport to catch a glimpse of their idol.
catch a glimpse of somebody/something
Fans waited for hours at the airport to catch a glimpse of their idol.20 to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see : I caught sight of her in the crowd.
catch sight of somebody/something
I caught sight of her in the crowd.21 to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc [= capture]: a novel that catches the mood of post-war Britain
describe well
[transitive]a novel that catches the mood of post-war Britain22
burn
a) if something catches fire, it starts to burn accidentally : Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire.
catch fire
Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire.b) [intransitive] if a fire catches, it starts to burn : For some reason the charcoal wasn't catching.
For some reason the charcoal wasn't catching.23
catch somebody's eye
a) to attract someone's attention and make them look at something : Out on the freeway, a billboard caught his eye.
Out on the freeway, a billboard caught his eye.b) to look at someone at the same moment that they are looking at you : Every time she caught his eye, she would glance away embarrassed.
Every time she caught his eye, she would glance away embarrassed.24 to suddenly realize you are doing something : Standing there listening to the song, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.
catch yourself doing something
Standing there listening to the song, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.25 to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body : The punch caught him right in the face.
hit
[transitive]The punch caught him right in the face.26 to be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need : We got caught in a rainstorm on the way here. Here's a useful tip if you're caught without a mirror.
be caught in/without etc something
We got caught in a rainstorm on the way here.Here's a useful tip if you're caught without a mirror.27
catch your breath
a) to pause for a moment after a lot of physical effort in order to breathe normally again : Hang on a minute - let me catch my breath!
Hang on a minute - let me catch my breath!b) to stop breathing for a moment because something has surprised, frightened, or shocked you
c) to take some time to stop and think about what you will do next after having been very busy or active : It was an enforced absence from work, but at least it gave me a little time to catch my breath before the final push.
It was an enforced absence from work, but at least it gave me a little time to catch my breath before the final push.28 if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it : Place the baking sheet under the muffin pan to catch the drips.
container
[transitive]Place the baking sheet under the muffin pan to catch the drips.29 if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it : The sunlight caught her hair and turned it to gold.
shine
[transitive]The sunlight caught her hair and turned it to gold.30 if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight : You've caught the sun on the back of your neck.
catch the sun
informalMIYou've caught the sun on the back of your neck.31 if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it : Gary swung the sail round to catch the light wind.
wind
[transitive]Gary swung the sail round to catch the light wind.32
sport
a) [transitive]DSC to end a player's innings in cricket by catching the ball that is hit off their bat before it touches the ground
b) [intransitive]DSB to be the catcher in a game of baseball
catch at something
phrasal verbShe caught at his arm, 'Hang on. I'm coming with you.'catch on
phrasal verb1 to become popular and fashionable : The idea of glasses being a fashion item has been slow to catch on.
The idea of glasses being a fashion item has been slow to catch on.2 to begin to understand or realize something
catch somebody out
phrasal verb1 to make someone make a mistake, especially deliberately and in order to prove that they are lying : The interviewer may try to catch you out.
The interviewer may try to catch you out.2 if something unexpected catches you out, it puts you in a difficult situation because you were not expecting it or not fully prepared for it : Even the best whitewater rafters get caught out by the fierce rapids here.
Even the best whitewater rafters get caught out by the fierce rapids here.catch up
phrasal verb1 to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc : If you miss a lot of classes, it's very difficult to catch up.
If you miss a lot of classes, it's very difficult to catch up. catch up with At the moment our technology is more advanced, but other countries are catching up with us.
At the moment our technology is more advanced, but other countries are catching up with us.2 to come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster
catch up with Drive faster - they're catching up with us.
Drive faster - they're catching up with us.3 to do what needs to be done because you have not been able to do it until now
4 to spend time finding out what has been happening while you have been away or during the time you have not seen someone
catch up on When I got home I phoned Jo to catch up on all the gossip.
When I got home I phoned Jo to catch up on all the gossip.5 to be or get involved in something, especially something bad : I didn't want to get caught up in endless petty arguments.
be/get caught up in something
I didn't want to get caught up in endless petty arguments.catch up with somebody
phrasal verb1 to finally find someone who has been doing something illegal and punish them : It took six years for the law to catch up with them.
It took six years for the law to catch up with them.2 if something bad from the past catches up with you, you cannot avoid dealing with it any longer :
