ENGLISH
REFERENCE

catch

v. · n.
US //ˈkætʃ// UK //kˈætʃ// catch
Irregular verb past caught past participle caught
  1. 1 to grab a moving object (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to stop and hold something that is moving through the air.

    to intercept and seize a moving object, especially with the hands.

    Example

    The goalkeeper managed to catch the ball just before it crossed the line.

    Example

    The outfielder sprinted toward the boundary, leaping at the last second to catch the fly ball and secure the final out of the inning.
  2. 2 to board transport (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to arrive in time to get on a bus, train, or plane.

    to reach a means of transport in time to board it before departure.

    Example

    If we leave now, we can still catch the last train home.

    Example

    Despite the heavy traffic, she managed to catch the express shuttle, arriving at the terminal just as the final boarding call was announced.
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  1. 3 to hear or understand (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to hear or understand what someone is saying.

    to perceive or comprehend a sensory input, typically speech, that is fleeting or quiet.

    Example

    Sorry, I didn't quite catch your name—could you say it again?

    Example

    The acoustics in the lecture hall were so poor that students in the back row struggled to catch the professor's subtle nuances.
  2. 4 to become stuck (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to get hooked or stuck on something.

    to become entangled or snagged on a projection or sharp edge.

    Example

    Be careful not to catch your sweater on that rusty nail.

    Example

    The hem of her silk dress caught on a splintered floorboard, causing a small but noticeable tear as she walked away.
  3. 5 a hidden problem (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a hidden difficulty or a trick in a situation that seems too good to be true.

    a concealed drawback or disadvantage in an otherwise attractive situation.

    Example

    The apartment is very cheap, but the catch is that there is no heating.

    Example

    The contract offered a remarkably high salary, but the catch was a non-compete clause that effectively barred him from the industry for two years.
  4. 6 a fastener (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small device used to lock or close something, like a door or a bag.

    a mechanical device or clasp designed to hold a door, window, or lid closed.

    Example

    The catch on my suitcase is broken, so I have to use a strap to keep it shut.

    Example

    The antique cabinet featured a brass catch that had become stiff with age, requiring a firm tug to release the heavy door.
  5. 7 a desirable person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    someone who would be a very good person to marry or date.

    a person considered highly desirable as a romantic partner or spouse due to wealth, status, or character.

    Example

    Your new boyfriend is smart, kind, and successful—he is quite a catch.

    Example

    In the local social circles, the young heir was considered the ultimate catch, though he remained largely uninterested in the attention he received.
  6. 8 amount caught (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the total amount of something caught, especially fish.

    the total quantity of a haul, specifically in the context of fishing or hunting.

    Example

    The fishermen were disappointed with their small catch after a long day at sea.

    Example

    The seasonal catch was significantly lower than previous years, prompting concerns about the long-term sustainability of the local ecosystem.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Indo-European *kaptós Proto-Italic *kaptos Vulgar Latin captus Proto-Indo-European *-yetider. Vulgar 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.

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