catch

Nouns

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

Verbs

  • (v) 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
  • (v) 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
    pick up,
  • (v) 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
    get,
  • (v) take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
    • Catch the ball!
    • Grab the elevator door!
    grab, take hold of,
  • (v) succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
    • We finally got the suspect
    • Did you catch the thief?
    capture, get,
  • (v) to hook or entangle
    • One foot caught in the stirrup
    hitch,
  • (v) attract and fix
    • His look caught her
    • She caught his eye
    • Catch the attention of the waiter
    arrest, get,
  • (v) capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping
    • I caught a rabbit in the trap today
    capture,
  • (v) reach in time
    • I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock
  • (v) get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly
    • Catch some sleep
    • catch one's breath
  • (v) catch up with and possibly overtake
    • The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp
    catch up with, overtake,
  • (v) be struck or affected by
    • catch fire
    • catch the mood
  • (v) check oneself during an action
    • She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind
  • (v) hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
    • We overheard the conversation at the next table
    overhear, take in,
  • (v) 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
    view, watch, take in, see,
  • (v) cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled
    • I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles
  • (v) detect a blunder or misstep
    • The reporter tripped up the senator
    trip up,
  • (v) 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
    get,
  • (v) contract
    • did you catch a cold?
  • (v) start burning
    • The fire caught
  • (v) perceive by hearing
    • I didn't catch your name
    • She didn't get his name when they met the first time
    get,
  • (v) suffer from the receipt of
    • She will catch hell for this behavior!
    get,
  • (v) attract; cause to be enamored
    • She captured all the men's hearts
    bewitch, captivate, charm, enamor, enamour, entrance, trance, becharm, beguile, capture, enchant, fascinate,
  • (v) apprehend and reproduce accurately
    • She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings
    • She got the mood just right in her photographs
    get,
  • (v) take in and retain
    • We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater
  • (v) spread or be communicated
    • The fashion did not catch
  • (v) be the catcher
    • Who is catching?
  • (v) become aware of
    • he caught her staring out the window
  • (v) delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned
    • I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting

Synonyms

gimmick pick up haul match get grab take hold of capture stop hitch arrest snap snatch taking into custody apprehension pinch collar catch up with overtake overhear take in view watch see trip up bewitch captivate charm enamor enamour entrance trance becharm beguile enchant fascinate

Antonyms

unhitch

See also

catch up

Words of close approximity

cater Catha catty
catch a glimpse catchall catch a wink catch cold catch crop catcher catcher's mask catch fire catchfly catching catch it catchment catchment area catchment basin catch on catch one's breath catch out catchpenny catchphrase catch phrase catch sight catch some Z's catch up catch up with catchweed catchword catchy