Etymology tree
substratebor.?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti
Proto-Indo-European *kaptós
Proto-Italic *kaptos
Latin captus
Proto-Indo-European *-yetider.
Latin -io
Vulgar Latin *captiāre
Old French chacierbor.
Anglo-Norman cachierbor.
Middle English cacchen
English catch
From Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-Norman cachier, variant of Old French chacier, from Late Latin captiāre, from Latin captāre, frequentative of capere. Akin to Modern French chasser (from Old French chacier) and Spanish cazar, and thus a doublet of chase. Compare ketch. Via PIE cognate with have. Displaced Middle English fangen ("to catch"; > Modern English fang (verb)), from Old English fōn (“to seize, take”); Middle English lacchen ("to catch" and heavily displaced Modern English latch), from Old English læċċan.
The verb became irregular, possibly under the influence of the semantically similar latch (from Old English læċċan), whose past tense was lahte, lauhte, laught (Old English læhte), until becoming regularised in Modern English.
Meanings
(countable) The act of seizing or capturing.
The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work.
(countable) The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball.
Nice catch!
The player made an impressive catch.
(countable) The act of noticing, understanding or hearing.
Good catch. I never would have remembered that.
"In that case," said Jeff, "I just thought of something else we need." He walked over to one of the stations that was selling household goods and bought a can opener.
"Nice catch," said Lucy. 2008, John I. Carney, Soapstone, page 74:
(uncountable) The game of catching a ball.
The kids love to play catch.
(countable) Something which is captured or caught.
The fishermen took pictures of their catch.
The catch amounted to five tons of swordfish.
He mused on memorable catches: dolphin fish, marlin—the last weighing more than 500 pounds. 1987 October, Charles E. Cobb, Jr., “North Carolina's Outer Banks”, in National Geographic, volume 172, number 4, page 498:
(broadly, colloquial, countable) A find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse.
He's a good catch.
"Aaaugh! Just once, I wish I could be considered a catch by men younger than fifty..." 2014 July 10, Jocelyn Samara D., Rain (webcomic), Comic 561 - A Catch:
Did you see his latest catch?
Mr. Alfred O'Shea, a tenorizing youth from Australia, sang several times at Queen's Hall, and may congratulate himself on being one of the ‘catches’ of the season. He sang airs from Italian and French operas, and also a number of Irish ditties—naturally, with a name like that and such an ingratiating McCormackian voice. 1922 August 1, “London Concerts”, in The Musical Times:
(countable) A stopping mechanism, especially a clasp which stops something from opening.
She installed a sturdy catch to keep her cabinets closed tight.
(countable) A hesitation in voice, caused by strong emotion.
There was a catch in his voice when he spoke his father's name.
(countable, qualifier:sometimes noun adjunct) A concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation.
It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch?
Be careful, that's a catch question.
(countable) A crick; a sudden muscle pain during unaccustomed positioning when the muscle is in use.
I bent over to see under the table and got a catch in my side.
(countable) A fragment of music or poetry.
In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road. 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
"'Fair Enslaver!'" cried Mr. Enderby. "You must know 'Fair Enslaver:' there is not a sweeter catch than that. Come, Miss Ibbotson, begin; your sister will follow, and I—"
But it so happened that Miss Ibbotson had never heard 'Fair Enslaver.' 1872, Harriet Martineau, Deerbrook, page 90:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A state of readiness to capture or seize; an ambush.
The common and the canon law […] lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another. 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
You lie at the catch again: this is not for edification. 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, Part I Section 3:
(countable) A crop which has germinated and begun to grow.
There was a good catch of rye and a good fall growth. 1905, Eighth Biennial Report of the Board of Horticulture of the State of Oregon, page 204:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A type of strong boat, usually having two masts; a ketch.
Fourteene miles Northward from the river Powhatan, is the river Pamaunke, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with Catches and small Barkes 30 or 40 myles farther. 1612, John Smith, Map of Virginia, Kupperman, published 1988, page 158:
(countable) A type of humorous round in which the voices gradually catch up with one another; usually sung by men and often having bawdy lyrics.
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch / You taught me but while-ere? 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
One night, I remember, we sang a catch, written (words and music) by Orlo Williams, for three voices. 1966, Allen Tate, T. S. Eliot: The Man and His Work, page 76:
(countable) The refrain; a line or lines of a song which are repeated from verse to verse.
The phrase repeated itself like the catch of a song. 2003, Robert Hugh Benson, Come Rack! Come Rope!, page 268:
(countable) The act of catching a hit ball before it reaches the ground, resulting in an out.
It was he who removed Peter Bowler with the help of a good catch at third slip. 1997 May 10, Henry Blofeld, “Cricket: Rose and Burns revive Somerset”, in The Independent:
(countable) A player in respect of his catching ability; particularly one who catches well.
[…] in the field he is all activity, covers an immense amount of ground, and is a sure catch. 1894 September 16, “To Meet Lord Hawke's Team”, in The New York Times, page 21:
(countable) The first contact of an oar with the water.
They are sitting up straighter, breaking their arms at the catch and getting on a terrific amount of power at the catch with each stroke. 1935 June 7, Robert F. Kelley, “California Crews Impress at Debut”, in The New York Times, page 29:
(countable) A stoppage of breath, resembling a slight cough.
The glottal stop or glottal catch is the sound used in English in the informal words uh-huh 'yes' and uh-uh 'no'. 2006, Mitsugu Sakihara et al., Okinawan-English Wordbook, →ISBN:
When a Scot pronounces water, better, or bottle—wa’er, be’er, or bo’le—the sound is precisely that of the catch; […]. 1891 February–December, Robert Louis Stevenson, In the South Seas […], New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1896, →OCLC:
the way it has been writ in, by catches, and many long intervals of interruption 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Introduction”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) A slight remembrance; a trace.
We retain a catch of those pretty stories. 1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC:
fragment (fragment of music) · bit (fragment of music) · haul (quantity captured) · snatch (the act of catching a ball) · hitch (hidden difficulty) · snatch (act of capturing) · snatch (fragment of music) · find (a find) · capture (act of capturing) · gimmick (hidden difficulty) · collar (act of capturing) · trick (hidden difficulty) · prize (a find) · latch (stopping mechanism) · clasp (stopping mechanism) · seizure (act of capturing) · burden (refrain) · observation (act of noticing) · grasp (the act of catching a ball) · refrain (refrain) · conquest (a find) · hasp (stopping mechanism) · problem (hidden difficulty) · stop (stopping mechanism) · snippet (fragment of music) · hitch · chorus (refrain) · beau (a find) · take (quantity captured) · snag (hidden difficulty) · chock (stopping mechanism)
Translations (139)
pt apanhada (the act of catching a ball) · de Fang (that which is captured or caught) · pt apanhadura (the act of catching a ball) · es truco (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · es traba (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · ru запо́р (a clasp which stops something from opening) · pt tranqueta (a clasp which stops something from opening) · pt tranca (a clasp which stops something from opening) · pl haczyk (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fr verrou (a clasp which stops something from opening) · sv hake (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · es partido (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · et leid (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · bg резе (a clasp which stops something from opening) · gl presa (that which is captured or caught) · it colpo (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · sq nxënje (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · sv hake (a clasp which stops something from opening) · nb fangst (that which is captured or caught) · gl captura (that which is captured or caught) · fr conquête (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · es conquista (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · ckb گرتن (the act of catching a ball) · fr hic (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · bg разбиране (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · fr couille (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · bg схващане (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · bg улов (that which is captured or caught) · es trampa (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · de Fang (the act of catching a ball) · it trappola (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fr loquet (a clasp which stops something from opening) · es oído (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · pt defesa (the game of catching a ball) · es percebimiento (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · id tangkap (the act of catching a ball) · fi kopittelu (the game of catching a ball) · es ampay (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · nl haak (a clasp which stops something from opening) · mr कॅच (the act of catching a ball) · ee xe (the act of catching a ball) · it presa (the act of catching a ball) · id sambut (the act of catching a ball) · nl struikelblok (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fi haka (a clasp which stops something from opening) · da fangst (that which is captured or caught) · nys baraniny (the act of catching a ball) · es percatación (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · fr prise (that which is captured or caught) · sv hasp (a clasp which stops something from opening) · fr arrest (the game of catching a ball) · it fermaglio (a clasp which stops something from opening) · pt fecho (a clasp which stops something from opening) · fi solki (a clasp which stops something from opening) · bg хващане (the act of catching a ball) · gl redada (that which is captured or caught) · sq kapje (the act of catching a ball) · es percepción (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · fi koppi (the act of catching a ball) · sq zan (that which is captured or caught) · et püüdmine (the game of catching a ball) · ca atrapar (the game of catching a ball) · ja キャッチボール (the game of catching a ball) · la captūra (that which is captured or caught) · kmr girtin (the act of catching a ball) · ca captura (that which is captured or caught) · es captura (that which is captured or caught) · sq kapur (that which is captured or caught) · ru задви́жка (a clasp which stops something from opening) · ru захва́т (the act of catching a ball) · pt presa (that which is captured or caught) · da hasp (a clasp which stops something from opening) · it fermaglio di sicurezza (a clasp which stops something from opening) · it conquista (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · da kaste bold (the game of catching a ball) · izh saakki (that which is captured or caught) · fr prise (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · hu bökkenő (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · it trucco (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · es apercibo (desus.) (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · da hage (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fi koukku (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · da fangst (the act of catching a ball) · es cuestión (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · he תפיסה (the act of catching a ball) · es pega (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · pt cilada (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · nl vangen (the act of catching a ball) · it trabocchetto (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · nl valstrik (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · it parata (the game of catching a ball) · grc ἄγρα (that which is captured or caught) · ru защёлка (a clasp which stops something from opening) · nn fangst (that which is captured or caught) · bg уловка (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · de Fang (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · fr loqueteau (a clasp which stops something from opening) · it fregatura (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · ru добы́ча (that which is captured or caught) · az qurğu (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · da fangst (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · ko 캐치볼 (the game of catching a ball) · sv fångst (the act of catching a ball) · pt conquista (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · he עוקץ (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · hu fogás (that which is captured or caught) · bg улавяне (the act of catching a ball) · ru уло́в (that which is captured or caught) · pt pegar (the act of catching a ball) · et püüe (the act of catching a ball) · de Haken (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fi huomio (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · nl vangst (that which is captured or caught) · fi saalis (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · sv fångst (that which is captured or caught) · hu elkapás (the act of catching a ball) · fi saalis (that which is captured or caught) · it bottino (that which is captured or caught) · bg хващане (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · ru подво́х (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · fr touche (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · ar لُقْطَة (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · sk chytať (the act of catching a ball) · es intríngulis (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · ru пои́мка (the act of catching a ball) · es apercibimiento (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · sk chytiť (the act of catching a ball) · fi salpa (a clasp which stops something from opening) · es a atrapar (the game of catching a ball) · es captura (the game of catching a ball) · nl vangst (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · sk zámok (a clasp which stops something from opening) · es vista (the act of noticing, understanding or hearing) · es atrapada (the act of catching a ball) · it il rovescio della medaglia (a hidden difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation) · nl opvangen (the act of catching a ball) · eo kapto (the act of catching a ball) · fi löytö (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend) · sv kap (a find, in particular a boyfriend/girlfriend)
Etymology tree
substratebor.?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti
Proto-Indo-European *kaptós
Proto-Italic *kaptos
Latin captus
Proto-Indo-European *-yetider.
Latin -io
Vulgar Latin *captiāre
Old French chacierbor.
Anglo-Norman cachierbor.
Middle English cacchen
English catch
From Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-Norman cachier, variant of Old French chacier, from Late Latin captiāre, from Latin captāre, frequentative of capere. Akin to Modern French chasser (from Old French chacier) and Spanish cazar, and thus a doublet of chase. Compare ketch. Via PIE cognate with have. Displaced Middle English fangen ("to catch"; > Modern English fang (verb)), from Old English fōn (“to seize, take”); Middle English lacchen ("to catch" and heavily displaced Modern English latch), from Old English læċċan.
The verb became irregular, possibly under the influence of the semantically similar latch (from Old English læċċan), whose past tense was lahte, lauhte, laught (Old English læhte), until becoming regularised in Modern English.
Meanings
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).
He ran but we caught him at the exit.
I hope I catch a fish.
The police caught the robber at a nearby casino.
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To entrap or trip up a person; to deceive.
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 12:13:
(dated, figuratively, transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To marry or enter into a similar relationship with.
As for Aspasia, concubinage with Pericles brought her as much honor as she could hope to claim in Athens.[…]from the moment she caught her man, this influential, unconventional woman became a lightning rod[…]. 2006, Michael Collier, Georgia Machemer, Medea, page 23:
The public[…]said that Miss Bogardus was a suffragist because she had never caught a man; that she wanted something, but it wasn't the vote. 1933, Sinclair Lewis, Ann Vickers, page 108:
"She caught this blanquito guy from El Condado," and you immediately know "My god, all that money." 1990 February 4, Vanessa Nemeth, Stephanie Poggi, “Bumps And All”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 29, page 12:
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To reach (someone) with a strike, blow, weapon etc.
If he catches you on the chin, you'll be on the mat.
The visitors started brightly and had an early chance when Valencia's experienced captain David Albeda gifted the ball to Fernando Torres, but the striker was caught by defender Adil Rami as he threatened to shoot. 2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To overtake or catch up to; to be in time for.
I would love to have dinner but I have to catch a plane.
For reasons I shan’t bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 weeks, at 10am, with the epidural going in first, and it was all a dream. […] But it was all over in time for my daughter to catch the Nigeria v Argentina World Cup game that evening, during which she seemed to reckon everything was miles offside. 2014 December 5, Marina Hyde, “Childbirth is as awful as it is magical, thanks to our postnatal ‘care’”, in The Guardian:
Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Did anyone catch the Charlie Rose the evening before last. Did you catch it? No, nothing? 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)
If you leave now you might catch him.
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To discover and observe (someone or something while it takes some action or exists) (sometimes, but not always, with implications of 'unpleasantly' or 'unexpectedly').
Once he caught me gazing lingeringly and eagerly at him. He turned round with that mocking air he assumed when he wanted to hide his feelings. 1952, Nikos Kazantzakis, chapter 1, in Carl Wildman, transl., Zorba the Greek, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, translation of Βίος και πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά [Víos kai politeía tou Aléxi Zormpá], →ISBN, page 5:
He was caught in the act of stealing a biscuit.
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To record, for example on film or tape.
It's the very first time such an elusive bird has been caught on film.
He was caught on video robbing the bank.
Lying in wait, camera at the ready, I managed to catch a hummingbird on video today, after being too slow getting my camera out yesterday.
(transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To travel by means of.
The glare, the flies, while they waited, and he and the stationmaster put their heads together over the time-table, trying to find this other train, which, of course, they wouldn't catch. 1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Escape”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 273:
After about a kilometer I caught a taxi to Santa Croce. 1987, A.J. Quinnell, In the Name of the Father, page 111:
catch the bus
(rare, transitive) To capture, overtake. ▸ To become pregnant. (Only in past tense or as participle.)
Had Nancy got caught with a child? If so she would destroy her parent's dreams for her. 2002, Orpha Caton, Shadow on the Creek, pages 102–103:
(dated, transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To grab, seize, take hold of.
Her aged Nourse, whose name was Glaucè hight, / Feeling her leape out of her loathed nest, / Betwixt her feeble armes her quickly keight […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To take or replenish something necessary, such as breath or sleep.
I have to stop for a moment and catch my breath
I caught some Z's on the train.
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To grip or entangle.
So Abſalom took a Pride in his Beauty, and particularly in his long Hair. And Providence ſo orders it, that in his Rebellion againſt his Father [David], vvhen he had loſt the Day, this Hair in his Flight catches on the Bough of a Tree, vvhere Joab found and ſlevv him. 1708, J[oseph] B[oyse], “Sin the Instrument of the Sinners Punishment. From II. Jerem[iah] 19.”, in Sermons Preach’d on Various Subjects […], Dublin: […] S. Powell, for the use of the author, →OCLC, page 246:
My leg was caught in a tree-root.
(intransitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To be held back or impeded.
His voice caught when he came to his father's name.
Be careful your dress doesn't catch on that knob.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
(intransitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To engage with some mechanism; to stick, to succeed in interacting with something or initiating some process.
Push it in until it catches.
The engine finally caught and roared to life.
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To have something be held back or impeded.
I caught my heel on the threshold.
(intransitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To make a grasping or snatching motion (at).
He caught at the railing as he fell.
(of fire, transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To spread or be conveyed to.
The fire spread slowly until it caught the eaves of the barn.
The Palace of Deiphobus aſcends / In ſmoaky Flames, and catches on his Friends. / Ucalegon burns next; the Seas are bright / VVith ſplendor, not their ovvn; and ſhine vvith Trojan light. 1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 247, lines 409–412:
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To grip (the water) with one's oars at the beginning of the stroke.
Stop gathering, in that gradual fashion, and catch the water sharply and decisively. 1906, Arthur W. Stevens, Practical Rowing with Scull and Sweep, page 63:
(intransitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To germinate and set down roots.
The seeds caught and grew.
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To contact a wave in such a way that one can ride it back to shore.
If you are surfing a wave through the rocks, make sure you have a clear route before catching the wave. 2001, John Lull, Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue, page 203:
(transitive) To seize hold of. ▸ To handle an exception.
When the program catches an exception, this is recorded in the log file.
(transitive) To intercept. ▸ To seize or intercept an object moving through the air (or, sometimes, some other medium).
I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.
Watch me catch this raisin in my mouth.
(archaic, transitive) To intercept. ▸ To seize (an opportunity) when it occurs.
she internally resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself,[…]. 1811, [Jane Austen], “18”, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To intercept. ▸ To end a player's innings by catching a hit ball before the first bounce.
Townsend hit 29 before he was caught by Wilson.
(intransitive, transitive) To intercept. ▸ To play (a specific period of time) as the catcher.
He caught the last three innings.
(transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To be the victim of (something unpleasant, painful etc.).
You're going to catch a beating if they find out.
(transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To be touched or affected by (something) through exposure.
Her hair was caught by the light breeze.
The sunlight caught the leaves and the trees turned to gold.
(informal, transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To become infected by (an illness).
Near-synonym: come down with
Everyone seems to be catching the flu this week.
(intransitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To spread by infection or similar means.
Does the sedition catch from man to man? 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 31:
He accosted Mrs. Browne very civilly, told her his wife was very ill, and said he was sadly troubled to get a white woman to nurse her: "For," said he, "Mrs. Simpson has set it abroad that her fever is catching." 1817, Mary Martha Sherwood, Stories Explanatory of the Church Catechism:
(intransitive, transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To receive or be affected by (wind, water, fire etc.).
And the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s account of the Grand Pas Classique from “Paquita” […] exemplified the spectacular czarist ideal of ballet that has long since became widely accepted as “classical ballet.” […] It catches an American athleticism and energetic team spirit that still seem to smash European notions of ballet classicism, as does its dancers’ selfless manner and their practicelike costumes. 2008 June 9, Alastair Macaulay, “In Student Steps and Leaps, a Survey of National Styles”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2025:
The bucket catches water from the downspout.
the sails caught and filled, and the boat jumped to life beneath us. 2003, Jerry Dennis, The Living Great Lakes, page 63:
The trees caught quickly in the dry wind.
(transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To acquire, as though by infection; to take on through sympathy or influence.
She finally caught the mood of the occasion.
And the next thing I knew, I had caught feelings for her.
(transitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To be hit by something.
He caught a bullet in the back of the head last year.
(intransitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To serve well or poorly for catching, especially for catching fish.
The nets caught well, and Mr. Deeley reported it the best fishing ground he ever tried. 1877, Annual Report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, page 135:
(intransitive) To receive (by being in the way). ▸ To get pregnant.
Well, if you didn't catch this time, we'll have more fun trying again until you do.
(transitive) To take in with one's senses or intellect. ▸ To grasp mentally: perceive and understand.
Did you catch his name?
Did you catch the way she looked at him?
(transitive) To take in with one's senses or intellect. ▸ To notice, to detect.
The B.C. Lottery Corporation commissioned two independent studies that found its voluntary self-exclusion program isn't always catching gamblers who've requested help in staying away. 2011 August 18, “Problem gambler crackdown coming to B.C. casinos”, in CBC News:
-You made a typo. -Ah, thanks for catching that.
(informal, transitive) To take in with one's senses or intellect. ▸ To take in; to watch or listen to (an entertainment).
I have some free time tonight so I think I'll catch a movie.
Tom Holland: Gong Xi Fa Cai! It's Tom Holland here. // Mark Wahlberg: And I'm Mark Wahlberg. Catch us in Uncharted this Chinese New Year at GSC. // Tom Holland: Gong Xi Fa Cai! 2022 January 31, 0:00 from the start, in Tom Holland & Mark Wahlberg Wishes Gong Xi Fa Cai!, GSCinemas, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2022:
(transitive) To take in with one's senses or intellect. ▸ To reproduce or echo a spirit or idea faithfully.
You've really caught his determination in this sketch.
(transitive) To seize attention, interest. ▸ To charm or entrance.
No, a far more natural beauty caught him. 2004, Catherine Asaro, The Moon's Shadow, page 40:
(transitive) To seize attention, interest. ▸ To attract and hold (a faculty or organ of sense).
He managed to catch her attention.
The enormous scarf did catch my eye.
“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
a campaign that caught the whole nation's imagination
he תפס (to reach in time to leave) · izh tavata (to capture or snare) · be злаві́ць (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ja 罹る (to contract a disease or illness) · zza groten (to capture or snare) · nb begripe (to perceive and understand) · sh uhvatiti (to capture or snare) · be злаві́ць (to capture or snare) · es pillar (to contract a disease or illness) · az yoluxmaq (to contract a disease or illness) · la nanciscor (to contract a disease or illness) · ang fōn (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cmn 捕 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cmn 明白 (to perceive and understand) · it chiappare (to capture or snare) · da forstå (to perceive and understand) · ru подцепля́ть (to contract a disease or illness) · uk заража́тися (to contract a disease or illness) · la capiō (to capture or snare) · sq nxë (to perceive and understand) · sc aggaffài (to capture or snare) · cmn 抓 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es agarrar (to contract a disease or illness) · nb forstå (to perceive and understand) · izh ottaa kiin (to capture or snare) · cmn 捕獲 /捕获 (to capture or snare) · ltg giusteit (to capture or snare) · fr prendre (to seize an opportunity) · ltg giut (to capture or snare) · pt pegar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ba аңлау (to perceive and understand) · grc ζωγρέω (to capture or snare) · bg закачам се (to engage, stick, or grasp) · eu harrapatu (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · mi hāhā (to capture or snare) · be лаві́ць (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl złapać (to capture or snare) · fi käsittää (to perceive and understand) · ru ухвати́ться (to seize an opportunity) · syl ꠗꠞꠣ (to capture or snare) · az çatmaq (to reach in time to leave) · es coger (to capture or snare) · msk dakup (to capture or snare) · pt compreender (to perceive and understand) · vec ciapar (to capture or snare) · ga beir ar (to capture or snare) · it intercettare (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · bg хващам (to capture or snare) · cy dal (to capture or snare) · ru понима́ть (to perceive and understand) · bn ধরা (to capture or snare) · kaw tangkeb (to capture or snare) · sv fånga (to capture or snare) · pt pegar (to capture or snare) · uk зарази́тися (to contract a disease or illness) · sv hinna (to reach in time to leave) · ro prinde (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fr attraper (to contract a disease or illness) · da gribe (to seize an opportunity) · as ধৰা (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fi napata (to capture or snare) · xdq буцара (to capture or snare) · he לָכַד (to capture or snare) · tyz cặp (to capture or snare) · vi chụp (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ar أَمْسَكَ (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · zdj uzingara (to capture or snare) · izh tavata (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · az tutmaq (to capture or snare) · ka დაჭერა (to capture or snare) · bg схващам (to perceive and understand) · ru подхвати́ть (to contract a disease or illness) · it agguantare (to capture or snare) · nb få med seg (to perceive and understand) · nl grijpen (to seize an opportunity) · fi siepata (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · pl łapać (to capture or snare) · mr पकडणे (to capture or snare) · lmo ciapà (to capture or snare) · az tutmaq (to contract a disease or illness) · nl oplopen (to contract a disease or illness) · ru расслы́шать (to perceive and understand) · az özünü çatdırmaq (to reach in time to leave) · uk підхопи́ти (to contract a disease or illness) · inh лаьца (to capture or snare) · pt captar (to perceive and understand) · es capturar (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · izh lovittaa (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cs chytnout (to seize an opportunity) · el πιάνω (to capture or snare) · es cachar (to capture or snare) · dsb łojś (to capture or snare) · ceb dakup (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · be лаві́ць (to capture or snare) · scn acchiappari (to capture or snare) · cs chytnout (to reach in time to leave) · nl vangen (to capture or snare) · km កើត (to contract a disease or illness) · fr intercepter (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · hu elkap (to contract a disease or illness) · ru подцепи́ть (to contract a disease or illness) · as ধৰ (to capture or snare) · ga beir ar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sq zë (to contract a disease or illness) · ru пойма́ть (to capture or snare) · be залаві́ць (to capture or snare) · pt capturar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · it afferrare (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · izh tavata kiin (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cmn 捉 (to capture or snare) · es comprehender (desus.) (to perceive and understand) · izh pyytää (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pt apanhar (to capture or snare) · da opfatte (to perceive and understand) · uk лови́ти (to capture or snare) · izh pyytää (to capture or snare) · mrw dakep (to capture or snare) · es atrapar (to capture or snare) · uk лови́ти (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · eo ricevi (to contract a disease or illness) · hu elkap (to capture or snare) · fi napata (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · vi chộp (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · bg хващам (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · syl ꠗꠞꠣ (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · eo kapti (to capture or snare) · sw daka (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl złapać (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · vi bắt (to capture or snare) · pl dostrzegać (to perceive and understand) · sv begripa (to perceive and understand) · eu harrapatu (to perceive and understand) · es emparar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ru схва́тывать (to perceive and understand) · pl zdążyć (to reach in time to leave) · es cazar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fi tarttua (to engage, stick, or grasp) · chr ᎦᏂᏱᎭ (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · jv cekel (to capture or snare) · he תָּפַס (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · mr पकडणे (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · be залаві́ць (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ba йоҡтороу (to contract a disease or illness) · io kaptar (to capture or snare) · es atajar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · az qavramaq (to perceive and understand) · cmn 罹患 (to contract a disease or illness) · pl załapać się (to reach in time to leave) · es agarrar (to capture or snare) · es pescar (to capture or snare) · kaw cĕkĕl (to capture or snare) · cmn 捕 (to capture or snare) · fi ottaa kiinni (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fr prendre (to capture or snare) · kw dalhenna (to capture or snare) · lmo ciappà (to capture or snare) · pt sacar (to perceive and understand) · da nå (to reach in time to leave) · lv tvert (to capture or snare) · sv fatta (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fi siepata (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ga ceap (to capture or snare) · ja 捕る (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ba тотоу (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · bni kanga (to capture or snare) · pl dostrzec (to perceive and understand) · de verstehen (to perceive and understand) · kw cachya (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ru поня́ть (to perceive and understand) · ltg tvert (to capture or snare) · sv uppfatta (to perceive and understand) · ba эләктереү (to contract a disease or illness) · ssy ibbirhe (to capture or snare) · es descubrir (to capture or snare) · sv fånga (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sv fatta (to perceive and understand) · nl vangen (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cho yukachi (to capture or snare) · sq kap (to capture or snare) · ba төшөнөү (to perceive and understand) · ota طوتمق (to capture or snare) · ar مَسَكَ (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · swb upara (to capture or snare) · mbb dakep (to capture or snare) · lt pagauti (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl przechwycać (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · kix thōhlòuh (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ru схвати́ть (to perceive and understand) · es aparar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es interceptar (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · sq za (to capture or snare) · ln kanga (to capture or snare) · rm tschiffar (to capture or snare) · hi पकड़ना (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ur پکڑنا (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sc aggarrare (to capture or snare) · yi כאַפּן (to capture or snare) · es coger (to contract a disease or illness) · sv gripa (to seize an opportunity) · fi ehtiä (to reach in time to leave) · bg улавям (to capture or snare) · es cachar (to perceive and understand) · ba эләктереү (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cs zachytit (to perceive and understand) · uk злови́ти (to capture or snare) · nl begrijpen (to perceive and understand) · ja 理解する (to perceive and understand) · de begreifen (to perceive and understand) · uk пійма́ти (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ro prinde (to capture or snare) · ba өлгөрөү (to reach in time to leave) · izh ottaa kiin (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ba тотоу (to capture or snare) · pt capturar (to capture or snare) · nl halen (to reach in time to leave) · sl ujeti (to reach in time to leave) · lv ķert (to capture or snare) · acw مسك (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · yue 捉 (to capture or snare) · ga ceap (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · da fange (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · chr ᎦᏂᏱᎭ (to capture or snare) · fr attraper (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · nl snappen (to perceive and understand) · ga faigh (to reach in time to leave) · sk lapať (to capture or snare) · cs chytit (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · de bekommen (to reach in time to leave) · ja 分かる (to perceive and understand) · hy բռնել (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es comprender (to perceive and understand) · izh lovittaa (to capture or snare) · cs chytit (to reach in time to leave) · de einfangen (to contract a disease or illness) · da fange (to capture or snare) · nl krijgen (to contract a disease or illness) · sk chytiť (to capture or snare) · cs chytnout se (to engage, stick, or grasp) · es pillar (to capture or snare) · es pillar (to perceive and understand) · tr kapmak (to capture or snare) · as আয়ত্ত কৰা (to capture or snare) · dsb łojś (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · km ផ្តាសាយ (to contract a disease or illness) · fur cjapâ (to capture or snare) · pt capturar (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · es coger (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es pillar (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · sq nza (to perceive and understand) · ca atrapar (to capture or snare) · pl ogarnąć (to perceive and understand) · uk пійма́ти (to capture or snare) · it afferrare (to capture or snare) · fr choper (to contract a disease or illness) · ht atrap (to capture or snare) · cy dal (to reach in time to leave) · ru подхва́тывать (to contract a disease or illness) · nb oppfatte (to perceive and understand) · my စီး (to reach in time to leave) · cy dal (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sdc agguantà (to capture or snare) · vi mắc (to contract a disease or illness) · sdn aggantà (to capture or snare) · akl dakop (to capture or snare) · de fangen (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es captar (to perceive and understand) · fi saada kiinni (to capture or snare) · qu jap'iy (to capture or snare) · yua chuk (to capture or snare) · ang fōn (to capture or snare) · lb fänken (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es atrapar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · az tutulmaq (to contract a disease or illness) · my ဖမ်း (to capture or snare) · it acchiappare (to capture or snare) · no fange (to capture or snare) · sv förstå (to perceive and understand) · ka დაჭერა (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sq zë (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · it catturare (to capture or snare) · fr attraper (to capture or snare) · bg хващам (to contract a disease or illness) · ru лови́ть (to capture or snare) · es abarajar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · de erwischen (to reach in time to leave) · mr समझणे (to perceive and understand) · cmn 染上 (to contract a disease or illness) · izh tavata kiin (to capture or snare) · ja 捕らえる (to capture or snare) · ja 捕まえる (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · da få (to contract a disease or illness) · id tangkap (to capture or snare) · ko 잡다 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ltg čupt (to capture or snare) · pon dapadap (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · yue 接 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · uk підхо́плювати (to contract a disease or illness) · ta பிடி (to capture or snare) · ms tangkap (to capture or snare) · it prendere (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl chwytać (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · sl ujeti (to perceive and understand) · cs chytit (to capture or snare) · ru лови́ть (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fi pyydystää (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · he תָּפַס (to perceive and understand) · xdq бурцара (to capture or snare) · pl przechwycić (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · es barajar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fr suivre (to perceive and understand) · ru пойма́ть (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · az tutmaq (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · cmn 抓住 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl chwycić (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · fa گرفتن (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · kw convedhes (to perceive and understand) · yi כאַפּן (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · es capturar (to capture or snare) · pl łapać (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · aa ibbixe (to capture or snare) · ja 捕まえる (to capture or snare) · da begribe (to perceive and understand) · pl ogarniać (to perceive and understand) · cmn 接住 (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · ce лаца (to capture or snare) · cs chytat (to capture or snare) · tg капидан (to capture or snare) · az yetişmək (to reach in time to leave) · fi saada (to contract a disease or illness) · bg улавям (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · oc agafar (to capture or snare) · dsb załapiś (to reach in time to leave) · gd glac (to capture or snare) · cs chytit (to seize an opportunity) · yai капак (to capture or snare) · sk lapiť (to capture or snare) · es chapar (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · pl schwytać (to capture or snare) · bg хващам (to reach in time to leave) · pt entender (to perceive and understand) · pt pilhar (to capture or snare) · cs chytit se (to engage, stick, or grasp) · my ဖမ်း (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · et püüdma (to capture or snare) · fi ymmärtää (to perceive and understand) · sk chytať (to capture or snare) · es cachar (to handle a computer error, especially an exception) · de fangen (to capture or snare) · fi tarttua (to seize an opportunity) · cs chytnout (to intercept an object in the air etc.) · nan-hbl 掠 (to capture or snare) · sl ujeti (to intercept an object in the air etc.)