ENGLISH
REFERENCE

catching

v. · adj. · n.
US //ˈkætʃɪŋ// UK //kˈætʃɪŋ// catch·ing
  1. 1 grabbing or receiving (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    the action of grabbing a moving object or getting a sickness.

    the present participle of 'catch', used in continuous tenses to denote the act of intercepting an object or contracting an illness.

    Example

    He was catching the ball when he tripped and fell on the grass.

    Example

    The goalkeeper was catching every shot with ease until the heavy rain made the ball too slippery to handle safely.
  2. 2 infectious (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Medicine

    used to describe a disease or a feeling that spreads easily from person to person.

    describing a pathogen or emotional state that is easily transmitted through contact or proximity.

    Example

    Be careful because the cold I have is very catching.

    Example

    Her enthusiasm for the project was catching, and soon the entire department was working overtime to meet the deadline.
    • non contagious
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  1. 3 attractive (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    something that is very attractive or easy to remember.

    possessing a quality that captures interest or is easily recalled; often synonymous with 'catchy' in modern usage.

    Example

    The melody was so catching that I hummed it all afternoon.

    Example

    The author has a catching style of prose that keeps the reader engaged even during the more technical chapters of the biography.
  2. 4 the act of capture (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    the act of grabbing or stopping something that is moving.

    the gerund form functioning as a noun to describe the event or skill of intercepting a moving object.

    Example

    His catching has improved a lot since he started practicing every day.

    Example

    The coach focused the afternoon session entirely on catching, as several players had struggled with high balls during the previous match.

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