1. to seize or capture, especially after pursuit: to catch a criminal; to catch a runaway horse.
2. to trap or ensnare: to catch a fish.
3. to intercept and seize; take and hold (something thrown, falling, etc.): to catch a ball; a barrel to catch rain.
4. to come upon suddenly; surprise or detect, as in some action: I caught him stealing the pumpkin.
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; grasp; clasp: He caught her in a warm embrace.
8. to grip, hook, or entangle: The sharp branches caught his clothing.
9. to allow (something) to become gripped, hooked, snagged, or entangled: He caught his coat on a nail.
10. to attract or arrest: The painting caught his fancy.His speech caught our attention.
11. to check or restrain suddenly (often used reflexively): She caught her breath in surprise.He caught himself before he said the wrong thing.
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: I caught the spirit of the occasion.
15. to fasten with or as if with a catch: to catch the clasp on a necklace.
16. to deceive: No one was caught by his sugary words.
17. to attract the attention of; captivate; charm: She was caught by his smile and good nature.
18. to grasp with the intellect; comprehend: She failed to catch his meaning.
19. to hear clearly: We caught only snatches of their conversation.
20. to apprehend and record; capture: The painting caught her expression perfectly.
21. to assist at the birth of: The town doctor caught more than four hundred children before he retired.

22. to become gripped, hooked, or entangled: Her foot caught in the net.
23. to overtake someone or something moving (usually followed by up, up with, or up to).
24. to take hold: The door lock doesn't catch.
25. to play the position of catcher: He catches for the Yankees.
26. to become lighted; take fire; ignite: The kindling caught instantly.
27. to become established, as a crop or plant, after germination and sprouting.

28. the act of catching.
29. anything that catches, especially a device for checking motion, as a latch on a door.
30. any tricky or concealed drawback: It seems so easy that there must be a catch somewhere.
31. a slight, momentary break or crack in the voice.
32. that which is caught, as a quantity of fish: The fisherman brought home a large catch.
33. a person or thing worth getting, especially a person regarded as a desirable matrimonial prospect: My mother thinks Pat would be quite a catch.
34. a game in which a ball is thrown from one person to another: to play catch; to have a catch.
35. a fragment: catches of a song.
36. a round, especially one in which the words are so arranged as to produce ludicrous effects.
37. the catching and holding of a batted or thrown ball before it touches the ground.
38. the first part of the stroke, consisting of the placing of the oar into the water.
39. the establishment of a crop from seed: a catch of clover.

40. catchy (def. 3).

41. to grasp at eagerly; accept readily: He caught at the chance to get free tickets.
42. catch on,
• to become popular: That new song is beginning to catch on.
• to grasp mentally; understand: You'd think he'd catch on that he's boring us.
• (in cooking) to scorch or burn slightly; sear: A pot roast is better if allowed to catch on.
43. to catch or discover (a person) in deceit or an error.
44. catch up,
• to lift or snatch suddenly: Leaves were caught up in the wind.
• to bring or get up to date (often followed by on or with): to catch up on one's reading.
• to come up to or overtake (something or someone) (usually followed by with): to catch up with the leader in a race.
• to become involved or entangled with: caught up in the excitement of the crowd.
• to point out to (a person) minor errors, untruths, etc. (usually followed by on): We caught the teacher up on a number of factual details.
• to capture for further training (a hawk that has been flown at hack).
• to harness (a horse or mule).

45. (in rowing) to bungle a stroke by failing to get the oar into the water at the beginning or by failing to withdraw it properly at the end.
46. to wind a rope around a bitt, capstan, etc., for one full turn.
47. to receive a reprimand or punishment: He'll catch it from his mother for tearing his good trousers again.
48. See entry at catch lightning in a bottle.
49. death (def. 14).

1. to take hold of so as to retain or restrain
2. to take, seize, or capture, esp after pursuit
3. to ensnare or deceive, as by trickery
4. to surprise or detect in an act
5. to reach with a blow
6. to overtake or reach in time to board
7. to see or hear; attend
8. to be infected with
9. to hook or entangle or become hooked or entangled
10. to fasten or be fastened with or as if with a latch or other device
11. to attract or arrest
12. to comprehend
13. to hear accurately
14. to captivate or charm
15. to perceive and reproduce accurately
16. to hold back or restrain
17. to become alight
18. to dismiss (a batsman) by intercepting and holding a ball struck by him before it touches the ground
19. (intr often foll by at)
• to grasp or attempt to grasp
• to take advantage (of), esp eagerly
20. to make pregnant
21. to be scolded or reprimanded
22. to realize that one's actions are mistaken

23. the act of catching or grasping
24. a device that catches and fastens, such as a latch
25. anything that is caught, esp something worth catching
26. the amount or number caught
27. a person regarded as an eligible matrimonial prospect
28. a check or break in the voice
29. a break in a mechanism
30. informal
• a concealed, unexpected, or unforeseen drawback or handicap
• (as modifier)
31. a game in which a ball is thrown from one player to another
32. the catching of a ball struck by a batsman before it touches the ground, resulting in him being out
33. 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

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