word-vault

{ "term": "catch", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "catch", "heSheIt": "catches" }, "pastSimple": "caught", "pastParticiple": "caught", "ingForm": "catching" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to stop and hold a moving object or person, especially in your hands", "sensetop": "catch (something/somebody)", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She managed to catch the keys as they fell." }, { "text": "I caught him when he tripped." }, { "text": "The dog caught the stick in its mouth." }, { "text": "I threw the bag in the air and she caught it." }, { "text": "‘Throw me over that towel, will you?’ ‘OK. Catch!’" } ], "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to hold a liquid when it falls", "sensetop": "catch something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The roof was leaking and I had to use a bucket to catch the drips." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to take hold of somebody/something", "sensetop": "catch somebody/something (+ adv./prep.)", "examples": [ { "text": "He **caught hold of** her arm as she tried to push past him." }, { "text": "He caught her up in his arms." }, { "text": "She caught the bar with both hands as she fell." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to be in time for a bus, train, plane, etc. and get on it", "sensetop": "catch something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "to **catch a bus/train/flight**" }, { "text": "We caught the 12.15 from Oxford." }, { "text": "I must go—I have a train to catch." }, { "text": "After a while they left to catch their bus." }, { "text": "He was still hoping to catch the 8.30 ferry." }, { "text": "If you want to catch that bus, you'd better hurry!" }, { "text": "Then she had to leave to catch her plane." }, { "text": "He was thinking of catching a plane home." } ], "topics": ["Transport by bus and train", "Transport by air"] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to capture a person or an animal that tries or would try to escape", "sensetop": "catch somebody/something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The murderer was never caught." }, { "text": "Our cat is hopeless at catching mice." }, { "text": "How many **fish did you catch**?" }, { "text": "The police say they are doing all they can to catch the culprits." } ], "topics": ["Crime and punishment"] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to get an illness", "sensetop": "catch somethingcatch something from somebody", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "It is unusual to catch measles more than once.", "contextForm": "catch something" }, { "text": "I think I must have caught this cold from you.", "contextForm": "catch something from somebody" } ], "topics": ["Health problems"] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "if something catches your attention, etc., you notice it and feel interested in it", "sensetop": "catch somebody’s attention, imagination, interest, etc.", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "A sign on the wall **caught my attention**." }, { "text": "Over the years, the mystery has caught the popular imagination." }, { "text": "There was one story in particular that caught her interest." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to notice something only for a moment", "sensetop": "catch something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She **caught sight** of a car in the distance." }, { "text": "He **caught a glimpse** of himself in the mirror." }, { "text": "I caught a look of surprise on her face." }, { "text": "He caught a whiff of her perfume." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "to hear or understand something", "sensetop": "catch something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Sorry, I didn't quite catch what you said." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "to find or discover somebody doing something, especially something wrong", "sensetop": "catch somebody doing somethingcatch yourself doing somethingcatch somebody + adv./prep.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I caught her lying to me again.", "contextForm": "catch somebody doing something" }, { "text": "**You wouldn't catch me** working *(= I would never work)* on a Sunday!" }, { "text": "She caught herself wondering whether she had made a mistake.", "contextForm": "catch yourself doing something" }, { "text": "He was caught with bomb-making equipment in his home.", "contextForm": "catch somebody + adv./prep." }, { "text": "Mark walked in and **caught them at it** *(= in the act of doing something wrong)*." }, { "text": "thieves **caught in the act**" }, { "text": "You've caught me at a bad time *(= at a time when I am busy)*." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "to be in time to do something, talk to somebody, etc.", "sensetop": "catch somebody/something", "labels": "(British English)(British English, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I caught him just as he was leaving the building." }, { "text": "I was hoping to catch you at home *(= to see you at home when you were there)*." }, { "text": "The illness can be treated provided it's caught *(= discovered)* early enough." }, { "text": "to **catch the post** *(= post letters before the box is emptied)*" }, { "text": "Bye for now! I'll **catch you later** *(= speak to you again later)*." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 12, "definition": "to see or hear something; to attend something", "sensetop": "catch something", "labels": "(informal, especially North American English)", "examples": [ { "text": "Let's eat now and maybe we could catch a movie later." }, { "text": "Did you catch that show on the radio?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 13, "definition": "to happen unexpectedly and put somebody in a difficult situation", "sensetop": "catch somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "His arrival **caught** me **by surprise**." }, { "text": "She **got caught in** a thunderstorm." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 14, "definition": "to become stuck in or on something; to make something become stuck", "sensetop": "catch (in/on something)catch something (in/on something)", "examples": [ { "text": "Her dress caught on a nail.", "contextForm": "catch (in/on something)" }, { "text": "He caught his thumb in the door.", "contextForm": "catch something (in/on something)" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 15, "definition": "to hit somebody/something", "sensetop": "catch somebody/something + adv./prep.catch somebody a blow + adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "The stone caught him on the side of the head.", "contextForm": "catch somebody/something + adv./prep." }, { "text": "She caught him a blow on the chin.", "contextForm": "catch somebody a blow + adv./prep." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 16, "definition": "to begin to burn", "sensetop": "catch (fire)", "examples": [ { "text": "The wooden rafters **caught fire**." }, { "text": "These logs are wet: they won't catch." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 17, "definition": "if something catches the light or the light catches it, the light shines on it and makes it shine too", "sensetop": "catch something", "examples": [ { "text": "The knife gleamed as it **caught the light**." }, { "text": "A colourful glow appears as the light catches the glass." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 18, "definition": "if you catch the sun, you become red or brown because of spending time in the sun", "sensetop": "catch the sun", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 19, "definition": "to show or describe something accurately", "sensetop": "catch something", "examples": [ { "text": "The artist has caught her smile perfectly." }, { "text": "Cameras caught Jessica headed to a photo shoot downtown." } ], "synonyms": "capture" }, { "senseNumber": 20, "definition": "to make a player unable to continue batting by catching the ball they have hit before it touches the ground", "sensetop": "catch somebody", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be involved in an argument or fight between two other people or groups", "examples": [ { "text": "When they quarrel, I am often caught in the middle." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to suddenly feel a strong need to go to the toilet", "labels": "(British English, informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to be put at a disadvantage", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be in a difficult situation when any action you take will have bad results", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in a situation where you have to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to start to be able to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired", "labels": "British English", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to become ill with a cold", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to have problems", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The film caught a cold over the outstanding debt." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to catch a very bad cold", "labels": "(old-fashioned, informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to attract somebody’s attention", "examples": [ { "text": "Can you catch the waiter's eye?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to attract or please somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "She looked through the hotel advertisements until one of them caught her fancy." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be punished or spoken to angrily about something", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "If your dad finds out you'll really catch it!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to get an advantage over somebody by doing something when they are not expecting it and not ready for it", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to surprise somebody by doing something when they are not expecting it and not ready for it", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about", "labels": "(British English)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to catch somebody in the act of doing something wrong or committing a crime", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to arrive or do something when somebody is not expecting it and not ready, especially when they are in an embarrassing situation", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the person who takes the opportunity to do something before other people will have an advantage over them", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to make somebody unsteady and in danger of falling", "examples": [ { "text": "I was thrown off balance by the sudden gust of wind." }, { "text": "The sudden movement threw him off balance." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to make somebody surprised and no longer calm", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "The senator was clearly caught off balance by the unexpected question." } ], "topics": ["Feelings"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(to put somebody) at a disadvantage or in difficulty", "examples": [ { "text": "Advances in drone technology have caught lawmakers on the back foot." }, { "text": "The side that’s on the back foot, struggling to defend, will usually give away more penalties." }, { "text": "We'd like to put the fossil fuel industry on the back foot." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/kætʃ/", "audio": "ca/catch/catch__gb_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkætʃɪz/", "audio": "ca/catch/catches__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/kɔːt/", "audio": "co/catch/court__gb_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkætʃɪŋ/", "audio": "ca/catch/catching__gb_3.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/kætʃ//ketʃ/", "audio": "ca/catch/catch__us_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkætʃɪz//ˈketʃɪz/", "audio": "ca/catch/catches__us_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/kɔːt/", "audio": "ca/catch/caught__us_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkætʃɪŋ//ˈketʃɪŋ/", "audio": "ca/catch/catching__us_4.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English (also in the sense ‘chase’): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French cachier, variant of Old French chacier, based on Latin captare ‘try to catch’, from capere ‘take’." }