catch

verb (NOTICE)

/kætʃ/ (caught, caught)

Definition

B2 [T] to discover, see, or realize something, especially someone doing something wrong: [+ -ing verb] He caught her reading his old love letters. If the virus is caught (= discovered) in time, most patients can be successfully treated. I caught sight of/caught a glimpse of (= saw for a moment) a red coat in the crowd.Using the eyesEyesight, glasses and lensesThe eye and surrounding areaPerceptive catch sb's attention, imagination, interest, etc. B2 to make someone notice something and feel interested: A ship out at sea caught his attention. Her pictures caught my imagination.Attracting and temptingAttractiveSexual attraction be caught without sth › to not have something, especially when it is needed: He doesn't like to be caught without any biscuits in the house.Lacking thingsScarce, inadequate and not enoughEssential or necessary you won't catch sb doing sth › said to mean that you will certainly not see someone doing a particular thing or in a particular place: You won't catch me at work after four o'clock. You won't catch Carla eating in a cheap restaurant, oh no.Impossible and improbable

(Definition of catch verb (NOTICE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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