catch
n 1: a hidden drawback; "it sounds good but what's the catch?"
2: the quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish"
[syn: {haul}]
3: a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect [syn: {match}]
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" [syn: {stop}]
7: a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window
8: a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth;
"he played catch with his son in the backyard"
9: the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the
catch with his back to the plate" [syn: {grab}, {snatch},
{snap}]
10: the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a
criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the
collar" [syn: {apprehension}, {arrest}, {collar}, {pinch},
{taking into custody}]
v 1: 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"
2: 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" [syn: {pick up}]
3: 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" [syn: {get}]
4: take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion
of; "Catch the ball!" "Grab the elevator door!" [syn: {grab},
{take hold of}]
5: succeed in catching or seizing, , esp. after a chase; "We
finally got the suspect"; "Did you catch the thief?" [syn:
{get}, {capture}]
6: to hook or entangle: "One foot caught in the stirrup" [syn:
{hitch}] [ant: {unhitch}]
7: attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his
eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter" [syn: {arrest},
{get}]
8: capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a
rabbit in the trap toady" [syn: {capture}]
9: reach in time; "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"
10: get or regain something necessary, usualle quickly or
briefly; "Catch some sleep"; "catch one's breath"
11: catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught
us near the exit ramp" [syn: {overtake}, {catch up with}]
12: be struck or affected by; "catch fire", "catch the mood",
etc.
13: check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch
herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"
14: hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We
overheard the conversation at the next table" [syn: {take
in}, {overhear}]
15: see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program
will be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition";
"Catch a show on Brodaway" [syn: {watch}, {view}, {see},
{take in}]
16: cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared,
or entangled; "I caught the hem of my dress in the
brambles"
17: detect a blunder or misstep: "The reporter tripped up the
senator" [syn: {trip up}]
18: grasp with the mind; "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" [syn: {get}]
19: contract; "did you catch a cold?"
20: start burning; "the fire caught"
21: perceive by hearing; "I didn't catch your name"; "She didn't
get his name when they met the first time" [syn: {get}]
22: suffer from the receipt of; "She will catch hell for this
behavior!" [syn: {get}]
23: attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's
hearts" [syn: {capture}, {enamour}, {trance}, {becharm},
{enamor}, {captivate}, {beguile}, {charm}, {fascinate}, {bewitch},
{entrance}, {enchant}]
24: apprehend and reproduce accurately; "She really caught the
spirit of the place in her drawings"; "She got the mood
just right in her photographs" [syn: {get}]
25: spread or be communicated; "The fashion did not catch"
26: be the catcher, in baseball; "Who is catching?"
27: become aware of; "he caught her staring out the window"
28: delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as
planned; "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"