catch

a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth

“he played catch with his son in the backyard”

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”

the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

“the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar”

attract and fix

“His look caught her”

“She caught his eye”

“Catch the attention of the waiter”

capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping

“I caught a rabbit in the trap today”

reach in time

“I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock”

“We barely made the plane”

get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly

“Catch some sleep”

“catch one's breath”

catch up with and possibly overtake

“The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp”

be struck or affected by

“catch fire”

“catch the mood”

check oneself during an action

“She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind”

hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

“We overheard the conversation at the next table”

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”

cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled

“I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles”

detect a blunder or misstep

“The reporter tripped up the senator”

grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

“did you catch that allusion?”

“We caught something of his theory in the lecture”

“don't catch your meaning”

“did you get it?”

come down with

“did you catch a cold?”

start burning

“The fire caught”

perceive by hearing

“I didn't catch your name”

“She didn't get his name when they met the first time”

suffer from the receipt of

“She will catch hell for this behavior!”

attract; cause to be enamored

“She captured all the men's hearts”

apprehend and reproduce accurately

“She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings”

“She got the mood just right in her photographs”

take in and retain

“We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater”

spread or be communicated

“The fashion did not catch”

be the catcher

“Who is catching?”

become aware of

“he caught her staring out the window”

delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned

“I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting”