catchseize or capture; trap or ensnare; contract, as a cold; a game where a ball is thrown from one person to anotherNot to be confused with:ketch ? a sailing vessel with two mastsAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreecatch (k?ch, k?ch)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 sentencec. 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.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.Phrasal Verbs: catch on1. 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 up1. 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.Idioms: catch fire1. 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 with1. 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 *capti?re; see chase1.]catch?a·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.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.catch (kæt?) vb, catches, catching or caught1. (tr) to take hold of so as to retain or restrain: he caught the ball. 2. (tr) to take, seize, or capture, esp after pursuit3. (tr) to ensnare or deceive, as by trickery4. (tr) to surprise or detect in an act: he caught the dog rifling the larder. 5. (tr) to reach with a blow: the stone caught him on the side of the head. 6. (tr) to overtake or reach in time to board: if we hurry we should catch the next bus. 7. (tr) to see or hear; attend: I didn’t catch the Ibsen play. 8. (tr) to be infected with: to catch a cold. 9. to hook or entangle or become hooked or entangled: her dress caught on a nail. 10. to fasten or be fastened with or as if with a latch or other device11. (tr) to attract or arrest: she tried to catch his eye. 12. (tr) to comprehend: I didn’t catch his meaning. 13. (tr) to hear accurately: I didn’t catch what you said. 14. (tr) to captivate or charm15. (tr) to perceive and reproduce accurately: the painter managed to catch his model’s beauty. 16. (tr) to hold back or restrain: he caught his breath in surprise. 17. (intr) to become alight: the fire won’t catch. 18. (Cricket) (tr) cricket to dismiss (a batsman) by intercepting and holding a ball struck by him before it touches the ground19. a. to grasp or attempt to graspb. to take advantage (of), esp eagerly: he caught at the chance. 20. (used passively) informal to make pregnant21. catch it informal to be scolded or reprimanded22. catch oneself on slang to realize that one’s actions are mistakenn23. the act of catching or grasping24. a device that catches and fastens, such as a latch25. anything that is caught, esp something worth catching26. the amount or number caught27. informal a person regarded as an eligible matrimonial prospect28. a check or break in the voice29. a break in a mechanism30. informal a. a concealed, unexpected, or unforeseen drawback or handicapb. (as modifier): a catch question. 31. (Games, other than specified) a game in which a ball is thrown from one player to another32. (Cricket) cricket the catching of a ball struck by a batsman before it touches the ground, resulting in him being out33. (Music, other) music a type of round popular in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, having a humorous text that is often indecent or bawdy and hard to articulate. See round31, canon17[C13 cacchen to pursue, from Old Northern French cachier, from Latin capt?re to snatch, from capere to seize] ?catchable adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014catch (kæt?) v. caught, catch?ing, n., adj. v.t. 1. to seize or capture, esp. after pursuit: to catch a thief. 2. to trap or ensnare: to catch fish. 3. to take and hold (something thrown, falling, etc.): to catch the ball. 4. to surprise or detect, as in some action: I caught them cheating. 5. to receive, incur, or contract: to catch a cold. 6. to be in time to get aboard (a train, boat, etc.). 7. to lay hold of; clasp: He caught her in an embrace. 8. to grip, hook, or entangle: The closing door caught my arm. 9. to allow to become gripped, hooked, snagged, or entangled: He caught his coat on a nail. 10. to attract or arrest: to catch our attention. 11. to check or restrain suddenly (often used reflexively). 12. to see or attend: to catch a show. 13. to strike; hit: The blow caught him on the head. 14. to become inspired by or aware of: to catch the spirit. 15. to fasten with or as if with a catch. 16. to deceive: No one was caught by his sugary words. 17. to attract the attention of; charm: caught by his winning smile. 18. to grasp with the intellect; comprehend: I caught the meaning. 19. to hear clearly. 20. to record; capture: The painting caught her expression. v.i. 21. to become gripped, hooked, or entangled. 22. to take hold: The lock won’t catch. 23. to play the position of catcher in baseball. 24. to become lighted; ignite. 25. catch at, to grasp at eagerly; accept readily. 26. catch on, a. to become popular. b. to fathom the meaning; understand. 27. catch out, to catch or discover in deceit or an error. 28. catch up, a. to overtake someone or something moving (often fol. by with or to). b. to lift up or snatch suddenly. c. to do enough so that one is no longer behind: to catch up on one’s work. d. to involve or interest intensely (usu. in the passive): caught up in the moment. n. 29. the act of catching. 30. anything that catches, esp. a device for checking motion, as a latch on a door. 31. any tricky or concealed drawback: There must be a catch somewhere. 32. a slight, momentary break or crack in the voice. 33. something caught, as a quantity of fish. 34. a person or thing worth getting, esp. a person regarded as a desirable matrimonial prospect. 35. a game in which a ball is thrown from one person to another. 36. a fragment: catches of a song. 37. the catching and holding of a batted or thrown ball before it touches the ground. 38. a musical round for male voices with the words in overlapping parts contrived to produce humorous or bawdy effects. adj. 39. catchy (def. 3). Idioms: catch it, Informal. to receive a reprimand or punishment. [1175?1225; Middle English cacchen to chase, capture