What is "catch"

Catch \Catch\, n.

1. Act of seizing; a grasp.
   --Sir P. Sidney.

2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic]
   --Addison.

   The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another.
   --T. Fuller.

4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.

   Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains.
   --Shak.

5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.]
   --Marryat.

6. pl. Passing opportunities seized; snatches.

   It has been writ by catches with many intervals.
   --Locke.

7. A slight remembrance; a trace.

   We retain a catch of those pretty stories.
   --Glanvill.

8. (Mus.) A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

Catch \Catch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caughtor Catched; p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.] [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.]

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.''
   --Judg. i. 6.

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''.
   --Mark xii. 13.

5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. ``Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue.''
   --Tennyson.

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.
   --Dryden.

8. To get possession of; to attain.

   Torment myself to catch the English throne.
   --Shak.

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.''
    --Dickens.

    To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.

Catch \Catch\, v. i.

1. To attain possession. [Obs.]

   Have is have, however men do catch.
   --Shak.

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?
   --Addison.

   To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be eager to get or use. ``[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state.''
   --Addison.

   To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.

late 14c., "device to hold a latch of a door," also "a trap;" also "a fishing vessel," from catch (v.). Meaning "action of catching" attested from 1570s. Meaning "that which is caught or worth catching" (later especially of spouses) is from 1590s. Sense of "hidden cost, qualification, etc." is slang first recorded 1855 in P.T. Barnum.\n\n\n\n

c.1200, "to take, capture," from Anglo-French or Old North French cachier "catch, capture" (animals) (Old French chacier "hunt, pursue, drive (animals)," Modern French chasser "to hunt;" making it a doublet of chase (v.)), from Vulgar Latin *captiare "try to seize, chase" (also source of Spanish cazar, Italian cacciare), from Latin captare "to take, hold," frequentative of Latin capere "to take, hold" (see capable).\n

\nSenses in early Middle English also included "chase, hunt," which later went with chase (v.). Of infections from 1540s; of fire from 1734; of sleep, etc., from early 14c. Related: Catched (obsolete); catching; caught.\n

\nMeaning "act as a catcher in baseball" recorded from 1865. To catch on "apprehend" is 1884, American English colloquial. To catch (someone's) eye is first attested 1813, in Jane Austen. Catch as catch can first attested late 14c.

n. 1 (context countable English) The act of seizing or capture. (jump act of capturing s) 2 (context countable English) The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball. (jump catching a ball s t) 3 (context countable English) The act of noticing, understanding or hearing. (jump act of noticing s t) 4 (context uncountable English) The game of catching a ball. (jump ball game t) 5 (context countable English) A find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse. (jump a find s t) 6 (context countable English) Something which is captured or caught. (jump something caught t) (jump quantity captured s) 7 (context countable English) A stopping mechanism, especially a clasp which stops something from opening. (jump stopping mechanism s t) 8 (context countable English) A hesitation in voice, caused by strong emotion. 9 (context countable sometimes noun adjunct English) A concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation. (jump hidden difficulty s t) 10 (context countable English) A crick; a sudden muscle pain during unaccustomed positioning when the muscle is in use. 11 (context countable English) A fragment of music or poetry. (jump fragment of music s) vb. 1 (lb en heading) ''To capture, overtake.'' 2 # (lb en transitive) To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). (jump capture prey s) (from 13^thc.) 3 # (lb en transitive) To entrap or trip up a person; to deceive. (from 14^thc.) 4 # (lb en transitive figuratively dated) To marry or enter into a similar relationship with. 5 # (lb en transitive) To reach (someone) with a strike, blow, weapon etc. (from 16^thc.)

1. v. discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state; "She caught her son eating candy"; "She was caught shoplifting"

2. perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily; "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse" [syn: pick up]

3. reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot; "the rock caught her in the back of the head"; "The blow got him in the back"; "The punch caught him in the stomach" [syn: get]

4. take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of; "Catch the ball!"; "Grab the elevator door!" [syn: grab, take hold of]

5. succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase; "We finally got the suspect"; "Did you catch the thief?" [syn: get, capture]

6. to hook or entangle; "One foot caught in the stirrup" [syn: hitch] [ant: unhitch]

7. attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter" [syn: arrest, get]

8. capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap toady" [syn: capture]

9. reach in time; "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"

10. get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly; "Catch some sleep"; "catch one's breath"

11. catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp" [syn: overtake, catch up with]

12. be struck or affected by; "catch fire"; "catch the mood"

13. check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"

14. hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We overheard the conversation at the next table" [syn: take in, overhear]

15. see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program will be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition"; "Catch a show on Broadway"; "see a movie" [syn: watch, view, see, take in]

16. cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled; "I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"

17. detect a blunder or misstep; "The reporter tripped up the senator" [syn: trip up]

18. grasp with the mind or develop an undersatnding of; "did you catch that allusion?"; "We caught something of his theory in the lecture"; "don't catch your meaning"; "did you get it?"; "She didn't get the joke"; "I just don't get him" [syn: get]

19. contract; "did you catch a cold?"

20. start burning; "The fire caught"

21. perceive by hearing; "I didn't catch your name"; "She didn't get his name when they met the first time" [syn: get]

22. suffer from the receipt of; "She will catch hell for this behavior!" [syn: get]

23. attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's hearts" [syn: capture, enamour, trance, becharm, enamor, captivate, beguile, charm, fascinate, bewitch, entrance, enchant]

24. apprehend and reproduce accurately; "She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings"; "She got the mood just right in her photographs" [syn: get]

25. take in and retain; "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"

26. spread or be communicated; "The fashion did not catch"

27. be the catcher; "Who is catching?"

28. become aware of; "he caught her staring out the window"

29. delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned; "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting"

30. [also: caught]

1. n. a hidden drawback; "it sounds good but what's the catch?"

2. the quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish" [syn: haul]

3. a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect [syn: match]

4. anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching); "he shared his catch with the others"

5. a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)

6. a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open" [syn: stop]

7. a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

8. a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth; "he played catch with his son in the backyard"

9. the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion" [syn: grab, snatch, snap]

10. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar" [syn: apprehension, arrest, collar, pinch, taking into custody]

11. [also: caught]

"Catch" is the name of a 1987 single by The Cure from their album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. The single was not released in the US. It charted at #27 in the UK.

Catch were a British indie pop group consisting of musicians Toby Slater (vocals and keyboards), Wayne Murray (bass and vocals) and Ben Etchells (guitar). The band were signed to Virgin Records and released two singles - "Bingo", which reached No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart, and "Dive In", which reached No. 44. The band released one self-titled album, which was only issued in Indonesia. The album is no longer in print or available online, however various tracks have surfaced on file and video sharing websites over the years.

Catch is an album by Japanese singer/pianist Misako Odani, released May 17, 2006 on the independent Hip Land Music label. All songs and lyrics were written by Misako, and she was a producer of the album as well.

Catch may refer to:

"Catch" is the debut single by Canadian singer-songwriter Allie X, from her major label debut EP CollXtion I, released initially on February 3, 2014, with a GIF designed in coordination with Logan White and Krissie Torgerson. It was re-released on November 20, 2015 as an EP with additional tracks. It is the first single under the name of Allie X.

In baseball, a catch occurs when a fielder gains secure possession of a batted ball in flight, and maintains possession until he voluntarily or intentionally releases the ball. When a catch occurs, the batter is out, and runners, once they properly tag up (retouch their time-of-pitch base), may attempt to advance at risk of being tagged out.

Unlike in American football and other sports, neither secure possession for a time nor for a number of steps is enough to demonstrate that a catch has occurred. A fielder may, for example, appear to catch and hold a batted ball securely, take a few more steps, collide with a wall or another player, and drop the ball. This is not a catch.

Umpires signal a catch with the out signal: a fist raised into the air, often with a hammering motion; if there is doubt about it, the umpire will likely shout "That's a catch!" On a close no-catch, the umpire will signal with the safe signal, which is both arms swept to the side and extended, accompanied by the call "No catch, no catch!" with an emphasis on the word "no".

The fielder must catch the ball with his hand or glove. If the fielder uses his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession, it is not a catch. Therefore, a foul ball which directly becomes lodged in the equipment of the catcher (other than his or her glove) is not considered a catch and hence not a foul tip.

It is not a catch if the batted ball hits a fielder, then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire, and then is caught by another defensive player.

A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, a railing, a rope, or a line of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing or a canvas that may be in foul ground. Interference should not be called in cases where a spectator comes into contact with a fielder and a catch is not made if the fielder reaches over a fence, a railing, a rope. The fielder does so at his or her own risk.

If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout, is "held up" and kept from an apparent fall by a player or players of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed.

To avoid ambiguity with the common term catch meaning any action that gains possession of a ball, some may say that a fielder gloved a thrown ball or a batted, bouncing ball.

In music, a catch is a type of round or canon at the unison. That is, it is a musical composition in which two or more voices (usually at least three) repeatedly sing the same melody, beginning at different times. Generally catches have a secular theme, though many collections included devotional rounds and canons.

In early collections the terms "catch" and "round" were interchangeable and, with part-songs and multi-voice canons, were all indexed as "songs". The catch and round differ from the canon in having a cadence on which the song can terminate after a specified number of repeats or when the leader gives a signal. A catch does not necessarily require the lines of lyrics to interact so that a word or phrase is produced from one part in the rests of another. This view became prevalent in the later part of the eighteenth century under the influence of the competitions sponsored by the Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club.

Catches were originally written out at length as one continuous melody, and not in score. The change to printing in score was first made in the early eighteenth century, and this is now the normal method of presentation. In the score for a catch the different voices are usually labelled "1", "2", "3", etc. This indicates that voice "1" sings its part first and continues to part 2. When part 1 has been completed it is sung by voice "2" and so on. A common mistake in performance is for all parts to start together as though the score were to indicate a part song.

Catch, having a catch, or playing catch, is one of the most basic children's games, often played between children or between a parent and child, wherein the participants throw a ball, beanbag, Flying disc or similar object back and forth to each other. At early stages in a child's life, playing catch is a good way to evaluate and improve the child's physical coordination. Notably, "[i]f a child cannot catch a ball that he or she is bouncing, it is unlikely the child will be able to play catch". Most children begin to be able to play catch around the age of four. Many four-year-olds instinctively close their eyes when a ball is heading towards them, and it can take some time to overcome this. Practising playing catch can help develop dexterity, coordination and confidence.

Because playing catch requires at least two participants, and because participants can be substituted at any point during the game, catch can be used to place children in social situations where they will interact with each other. For example, this can be done by first having one child play catch with an adult, and then bringing other children into the game or substituting another child for the adult, at which point the adult can leave entirely. As children become more adept at the skills used to catch a thrown object and return it to the thrower, these skills are incorporated into more complex games played with larger groups of participants, such as hot potato, dodgeball, and keep away. Playing catch can improve an aptitude for sports that involve catching and throwing, such as baseball, football, and basketball.