catch
The act of seizing or capturing.
Noun 4 meanings
The act of seizing or capturing.
“The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work.”
The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball.
“The player made an impressive catch.”
The act of noticing, understanding or hearing.
“Good catch. I never would have remembered that.”
The game of catching a ball.
“The kids love to play catch.”
Verb 4 meanings
To capture, overtake.
“I hope I catch a fish.”
To seize hold of.
“I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.”
To intercept.
“I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.”
To receive (by being in the way).
“You're going to catch a beating if they find out.”
Etymology
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.
Similar and opposite words
CATCH at a glance
CATCH has 5 letters and scores 12 points in Scrabble (C 3 + A 1 + T 1 + C 3 + H 4) and 13 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,376 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with catch
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