Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
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Definition
catch1 Show phoneticsverb past caught
1 GET HOLD [T] to stop someone or something that is moving through the air by getting hold of it
Try to catch the ball.
She fell backwards but he caught her in his arms.
2 STOP ESCAPING [T] to find and stop a person or animal who is trying to escape
He ran after his attacker but couldn't catch him.
Did you catch many fish today?
3 CRIMINAL [T] If the police catch a criminal, they find them and take them away.
These terrorists must be caught.
4 ILLNESS [T] to get an illness or disease
I think I've caught a cold.
5 TRANSPORT [T] to get on a bus, train, etc in order to travel somewhere
You can catch the bus from the top of the hill.
6 DISCOVER [T] to discover someone who is doing something wrong or something secret
[+ doing sth] I caught her listening outside the door.
(informal) You won't catch me wearing (= I never wear) a tie.
7 STICK [I,T] to stick somewhere, or to make something stick somewhere
My dress caught on the door handle as I was leaving.
8 COLLECT [T] to collect something that is falling
I used a bucket to catch the drips.
9 BE IN TIME [T] to manage to be in time to see or do something
I only caught the end of the programme.
10 HEAR [T] to hear or understand something correctly
I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name.
11
12
I got caught in the rain.
13
You've caught the sun on your shoulders.
14
He caught sight of himself in the mirror.
15 HIT [T] UK to hit something or someone
The ball flew across the garden, and caught me on the chin.
