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Book Glossary

catch

Dictionary definition · catch

noun

  1. a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident"it sounds good but what's the catch?"
  2. the quantity that was caught"the catch was only 10 fish"
  3. a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
  4. anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching)"he shared his catch with the others"
  5. a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)
  6. a restraint that checks the motion of something"he used a book as a stop to hold the door open"

verb

  1. discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state"She caught her son eating candy"
  2. perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily"I caught the aroma of coffee"
  3. reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot"the rock caught her in the back of the head"
  4. take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of"Catch the ball!"
  5. succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase"We finally got the suspect"
  6. to hook or entangle"One foot caught in the stirrup"

Similar words

gimmickhaulpick upmatchgetgrabcapturestophitch

Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).