Catch v. t. (past & past part. caught; pres. part. catching; catched is rarely used) 1.To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.
2.To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued... and caught him."
3.To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.
4.Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words".
5.To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts... whereof I catch the issue."
6.To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.
7.To engage and attach; to please; to charm. "The soothing arts that catch the fair."
8.To get possession of; to attain. "Torment myself to catch the English throne."
9.To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.
10.To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.
11.To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.
To catch fire, to become inflamed or ignited.
to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. (Colloq.)
To catch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while speaking. (Colloq.) "You catch me up so very short."
To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.
Catch v. i. (past & past part. caught; pres. part. catching; catched is rarely used) 1.To attain possession. (Obs.) "Have is have, however men do catch."
2.To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.
3.To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.
4.To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate. "Does the sedition catch from man to man?"
To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be eager to get or use. "(To) catch at all opportunities of subverting the state."
To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.
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