catch

Meanings

• a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident
  • "it sounds good but what's the catch?"
• the quantity that was caught
  • "the catch was only 10 fish"
• a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
• anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching)
  • "he shared his catch with the others"
• a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)
• a restraint that checks the motion of something
• a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window
• a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth
  • "he played catch with his son in the backyard"
• the act of catching an object with the hands
  • "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"
• the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
• discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
• perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
  • "ears open to catch every sound"
  • "Catch a glimpse"
• reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
• take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
  • "Catch the ball!"
• succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
  • "Did you catch the thief?"
• to hook or entangle
• attract and fix
  • "Catch the attention of the waiter"
• capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping
• reach in time
  • "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"
• get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly
  • "Catch some sleep"
  • "catch one's breath"
• catch up with and possibly overtake
• be struck or affected by
  • "catch fire"
  • "catch the mood"
• check oneself during an action
  • "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"
• hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
• see or watch
  • "Catch a show on Broadway"
• cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled
• detect a blunder or misstep
• grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of
  • "did you catch that allusion?"
  • "don't catch your meaning"
• contract
  • "did you catch a cold?"
• start burning
• perceive by hearing
  • "I didn't catch your name"
• suffer from the receipt of
  • "She will catch hell for this behavior!"
• attract; cause to be enamored
• apprehend and reproduce accurately
• take in and retain
  • "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"
• spread or be communicated
  • "The fashion did not catch"
• be the catcher
  • "Who is catching?"
• become aware of
• delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned

Synonyms

apprehension, arrest, becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, capture, catch up with, charm, collar, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, get, gimmick, grab, haul, hitch, match, overhear, overtake, pick up, pinch, see, snap, snatch, stop, take hold of, take in, taking into custody, trance, trip up, view, watch