catch
/kˈætʃ/
Explore definitions, synonyms, and language insights of catch
Definitions
Noun
a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident; "it sounds good but what''s the catch?"
Noun
the quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish"
Noun
a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
Noun
anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching); "he shared his catch with the others"
Noun
a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)
Noun
a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open"
Noun
a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window
Noun
a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth; "he played catch with his son in the backyard"
Noun
the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin''s snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder''s snap and throw was a single motion"
Noun
the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
Verb
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"
Verb
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"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse"
Verb
reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot; "the rock caught her in the back of the head"; "The blow got him in the back"; "The punch caught him in the stomach"
Verb
take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of; "Catch the ball!"; "Grab the elevator door!"
Verb
succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase; "We finally got the suspect"; "Did you catch the thief?"
Verb
to hook or entangle; "One foot caught in the stirrup"
Verb
attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter"
Verb
capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap today"
Verb
reach in time; "I have to catch a train at 7 o''clock"
Verb
get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly; "Catch some sleep"; "catch one''s breath"
Verb
catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp"
Verb
be struck or affected by; "catch fire"; "catch the mood"
Verb
check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"
Verb
hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We overheard the conversation at the next table"
Verb
see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program will be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition"; "Catch a show on Broadway"; "see a movie"
Verb
cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled; "I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"
Verb
detect a blunder or misstep; "The reporter tripped up the senator"
Verb
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"; "did you get it?"; "She didn''t get the joke"; "I just don''t get him"
Verb
contract; "did you catch a cold?"
Verb
start burning; "The fire caught"
Verb
perceive by hearing; "I didn''t catch your name"; "She didn''t get his name when they met the first time"
Verb
suffer from the receipt of; "She will catch hell for this behavior!"
Verb
attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men''s hearts"
Verb
apprehend and reproduce accurately; "She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings"; "She got the mood just right in her photographs"
Verb
take in and retain; "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"
Verb
spread or be communicated; "The fashion did not catch"
Verb
be the catcher; "Who is catching?"
Verb
become aware of; "he caught her staring out the window"
Verb
delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned; "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"
Synonyms
apprehension
arrest
becharm
beguile
bewitch
captivate
capture
catch up with
charm
collar
enamor
enamour
enchant
entrance
fascinate
get
gimmick
grab
haul
hitch
match
overhear
overtake
pick up
pinch
see
snap
snatch
stop
take hold of
take in
taking into custody
trance
trip up
view
watch
More General Terms
accumulate
ache
acquire
adult
amass
appeal
attach
attract
board
capture
catch fire
change
check
clutch
collect
combust
compile
comprehend
conflagrate
constraint
contain
contract
control
curb
delay
delivery
detain
discover
draw
draw in
drawback
erupt
fastener
fastening
find
find out
fixing
gaining control
game
get
get a line
get on
get wind
get word
grownup
hear
hit
hoard
hold
hold in
hold up
holdfast
hurt
ignite
indefinite quantity
learn
manner of speaking
moderate
object
perceive
physical object
pick up
pile up
play
prehend
propagate
pull
pull in
reproduce
restraint
roll up
see
seize
seizure
speech
spread
suffer
surprise
take
take fire
touch
touching
understand
watch
witness
More Specific Terms
bag
batfowl
bench hook
catch cold
click
detent
dog
doorstop
doorstopper
ensnare
entrap
fair catch
fish
frog
get
harpoon
hasp
hold
hood latch
hook
hunt
hunt down
intercept
interception
interlock
interlocking
lasso
latch
mesh
meshing
net
nett
pawl
preview
rat
rebound
recapture
reception
retake
rope
run
shoestring catch
snag
snare
spectate
stop
track down
trammel
trap
trip
tripper
visualise
visualize
work