Laxi Dictionary

English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition catch in British English

catch verb

verb
/kætʃ/
1

to stop and hold something that is moving through the air, especially an object that someone throws

Example

She tossed the packet of crisps to Kate, who caught it with one hand.

Example

'Can I borrow your pen?' 'Here, catch!'

Synonyms and related words
carry hold on hang on
1.1

to stop and keep hold of someone who is falling

Example

Anne stayed close enough to catch the child if he fell.

Synonyms and related words
catch prop up hold up
1.2

to end a cricketer's period of play by stopping and keeping hold of a ball they have hit before it touches the ground

Synonyms and related words
the Ashes at stumps bail
1.3

to be the catcher in baseball

Synonyms and related words
balk bat catch
1.4

if a container catches liquid or small objects or pieces, they fall into it when it is below them

Example

Put a bucket over there to catch the drips as they fall.

Synonyms and related words
include contents contain
2

to get hold of and stop someone you have been chasing so that they cannot escape

Example

She raced to catch the toddler before he could make it out of the front gate.

Example

'Can't catch me,' her brother shouted as he ran up the stairs.

Synonyms and related words
shut in imprison confine
2.1

to take hold of someone or a part of their body with your hands

Example

Jack caught her as she made for the door.

Example

With one swift movement, he caught her by the wrist.

Example

She caught hold of his arm and pulled him back.

Synonyms and related words
catch catch at claw
3

if the police catch someone, they find them and arrest them

Example

The police say they're doing all they can to catch the culprits.

Synonyms and related words
apprehend apprehension arrest
4

to get on a train, bus, plane, or boat that is travelling somewhere

Example

I caught the next train back to London.

Synonyms and related words
get on onto transfer
4.1

to arrive in time to get on a train, bus, plane, or boat that is travelling somewhere

Example

If we want to catch that bus we'll have to leave right now.

Example

I have a train to catch, so we have to finish by 4.30.

Synonyms and related words
get on onto transfer
5

to stop an animal, bird, or insect and prevent it from escaping, especially using a trap

Example

a device used for catching flies

Example

We rescued a rabbit caught in a trap.

Synonyms and related words
an easy target angling bag
5.1

to hunt and stop an animal in order to kill and eat it

Example

Wolves hunt in packs, using careful strategies to catch their prey.

Synonyms and related words
an easy target angling bag
5.2

to get a fish from a river, lake, or sea, using a fishing net or rod

Example

Drift nets are used mainly for catching tuna.

Example

freshly caught trout

Synonyms and related words
an easy target angling bag
6

to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal

Example

Several times she'd caught him staring at her.

Example

Diana was caught red-handed taking money from her mother's purse.

Example

Burglars who are caught in the act have little chance of escaping punishment.

Example

They've been trying to catch her at it, but she's too clever.

Synonyms and related words
notice recognize observe
7

to find someone in a situation that they are not expecting or prepared for

Example

The railway companies had all been caught completely unprepared by the sudden snowfalls.

Example

I've obviously caught you at a bad moment. I'll come back later.

Synonyms and related words
notice recognize observe
8

to see or smell something for a very short time

Example

People lined the streets outside the theatre to catch a glimpse of her.

Example

As she went out, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

Example

Adam caught a whiff of expensive perfume as she passed by.

Synonyms and related words
see make out spot catch olfactory palate
9

to have a sudden effect on something such as someone's attention or imagination

Example

Suddenly my attention was caught by a lorry parked a short distance ahead.

Example

His campaign seems to have caught the imagination of many other Germans.

Synonyms and related words
influence decide lead to
10

to get a disease or illness

Example

He caught the flu and had to stay in bed.

Example

Brian caught chickenpox from his nephew.

Example

Get out of those wet clothes or you'll catch your death of cold.

Synonyms and related words
suffer get contract
11

to hear something that someone says

Example

The music was so loud I didn't catch what he said.

Example

I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

Synonyms and related words
make out hear overhear
12

to find someone available to talk by going to or telephoning them at the place where they are

Example

Call me at the office. You can usually catch me there after 8.30.

Example

Margaret caught me just as I was leaving.

Synonyms and related words
say talk speak
13

to discover a problem or medical condition and stop it from becoming worse

Example

Doctors assured her that her symptoms had been caught early enough to treat.

14

to see, watch, or listen to something

Example

Want to catch a film tonight?

15

to become stuck on something, or to make something do this

Example

As she ran, her foot caught on something and she fell.

Example

I must have caught my shirt on a nail when I was moving that wood.

Synonyms and related words
locked-in syndrome paralysed stuck
16

if light catches something, or if something catches the light, the light shines on it and makes it look bright and shiny

Example

A fish in the river catches the light one second and swims off into a dark pool the next.

Synonyms and related words
reflect flood fade
17

if the wind or a wave catches something, it gets behind or under it and suddenly blows or pushes it hard

Example

The balloon was caught by the wind and carried away.

Synonyms and related words
break burst cast up blow blow a gale catch
18

to hit someone on a part of their body

Example

He caught his opponent with a right cross to the chin.

Synonyms and related words
hit smack bludgeon
18.1

to hit part of your body on something by accident

Example

Sue slipped in the yard and caught her head on the gate post.

Synonyms and related words
bang bump catch
19

to show or represent something in a way that people can easily recognize

Example

It wasn't a very radical or intellectual newspaper, but it caught a mood of dissent in mid-1950s America.

Synonyms and related words
signify stand for symbolize
20

to start to burn

Example

The dry twigs soon caught fire.

Synonyms and related words
burn light blaze
21

if a news organization catches and kills a story, they pay for the rights to it and then do not publish it

Example

In the tabloid business, the practice is called catch and kill.

Definition catch in British English

Related Words

Words related to catch:

catch (verb) catch (noun) catch at (phrasal verb) catch basin (noun) catch fire (phrase) catch on (phrasal verb) catch out (phrasal verb) catch someone in the act (of doing something) (phrase) catch someone napping (phrase) catch someone on the hop (phrase) catch someone’s eye (phrase) catch the light (phrase) catch the sun (phrase) catch up (phrasal verb) catch up with (phrasal verb) catch you later (phrase) catch your breath (phrase) catch-22 situation (noun) catch-all (adjective) catch-all (noun) catch-up (noun) some rays (phrase) catch/get some z’s (phrase) hold of (phrase) safety catch (noun) someone by surprise (phrase) someone’s fancy (phrase) you catch someone doing something (phrase) you’ll catch your death (of cold) (phrase)