catch

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. t. take, seize; overtake; land, net, hook; surprise, detect; snare, trap; capture, arrest, apprehend, nab (inf.); snatch. See restraint, deception, difficulty, hindrance.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Something caught or worth catching]

Syn. take, haul, treasure, prize, cache, trophy, booty, prey, quarry, game, bag, bonanza, good thing, plum, find, Jewel, pride and joy, discovery, gem, lucky strike; see also booty .

2. [*A deSirable mate]

Syn. eligible bachelor, conquest, prize, rich man, rich woman, number*, score*, piece*, hunk*, lady-killer*; see also sense 1, FIANC? , lover 1 .

3. [The act of catching]

Syn. capture, seizure, grasping, apprehension, taking into captivity, take, snatching, disclosure, uncovering, nab*, cop*, bag*, scoop*, pickup*, grab*, haul*, collar*.

4. [A hidden qualification]

Syn. drawback, snag, trick, catch question, puzzle, conundrum, trap, hitch, rub, joker, kicker*, puzzler*, curve*, gimmick*, strings*; see also difficulty 1 , impediment 1 , trick 1 .

5. [A hook]

Syn. latch, clasp, clamp, snap; see fastener , lock 1 .

v.

1. [To seize hold of]

Syn. snatch, take, take hold of, seize, snag, grab, pick, pounce on, fasten upon, pluck, hook, entangle, claw, clench, clasp, grasp, clutch, grip, glom*, glom onto*, glove*; see also sense 2, seize 1 .

Ant. free, miss*, drop.

2. [To bring into captivity]

Syn. capture, trap, apprehend, arrest, seize, snare, net, bag, nab*; see also sense 1, arrest 1 , seize 2 .

3. [To come to from behind]

Syn. overtake, intercept, overhaul, reach, go after, get, come upon, run down, gain on, catch up with, cut off; see also pass 1 , reach 1 .

Ant. falter, fail*, lag behind.

4. [To contract a disease]

Syn. get, contract, come down with, fall ill, develop, become infected, incur, suffer from, become subject to, become liable to, fall victim to, take, succumb to, break out with, break out in.

Ant. ward off, escape*, get over.

5. [To take unawares]

Syn. surprise, detect, find, expose; see discover , find 1 , surprise 2 .

6. [To trick]

Syn. fool, hoax, ensnare, trip up*; see deceive .

7. [To reach in time to board]

Syn. get on, climb on, board, make, take, hop on, grab*, jump*; see also board 2 .

Syn.- catch , the most general term here, refers to the seizing or taking of a person or thing, whether by skill, cunning, or surprise, and usually implies pursuit; capture stresses seizure by force or stratagem [ to capture an outlaw ] ; nab , an informal word, specifically implies a sudden or quick taking into custody [ the police nabbed the thief ] ; trap and snare both imply the literal or figurative use of a device for catching a person or animal and suggest a situation from which escape is difficult or impossible [ to trap a bear, snared by their false promises ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. capture snatch, seizure, trap, grab, snare, grasp.

2. clasp latch, clip, fastener, lock, hook and eye.

3. take haul, prize, plunder, booty, spoils.

4. drawback hitch, trick, gimmick, snag.

II

v.

1. apprehend capture, seize, snatch, grasp, grip, nab, net, snare, clutch, trap, bag.

2. discover surprise, *nail, expose, detect, come upon.

3. come down with an illness contract, get, develop, break out with, be infected by, fall ill with.

4. understand comprehend, see, grasp, get, follow, perceive.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To gain possession of, especially after a struggle or chase: capture, get, net1, secure, take. Informal: bag. Slang: nail. See GET. 2. To come upon, especially suddenly or unexpectedly: hit on (or upon), surprise, take. Informal: hit. See SURPRISE. 3. To perceive, especially barely or fleetingly: descry, detect, discern, espy, glimpse, spot, spy. See SEE. 4. To get hold of (something moving): clutch1, grab, seize, snatch. Informal: nab. Idiom: lay hands on. See GET. 5. To grasp at (something) eagerly, forcibly, and abruptly with the jaws: nip1, snap, snatch, strike. See REACH. 6. To have a sudden overwhelming effect on: seize, strike, take. See ATTACK, OVER. 7. To go aboard (a means of transport): board, take. See USED. 8. To make secure: anchor, fasten, fix, moor, secure. Idiom: make fast. See MOVE. 9. To become or cause to become stuck or lodged: fix, lodge, stick. See MOVE. 10. To gain control of or an advantage over by or as if by trapping: enmesh, ensnare, ensnarl, entrap, snare, tangle, trammel, trap, web. See FREE. 11. To deliver a powerful blow to suddenly and sharply: bash, clout, hit, knock, pop1, slam, slog, slug3, smash, smite, sock, strike, swat, thwack, whack, wham, whop. Informal: biff, bop, clip1, wallop. Slang: belt, conk, paste. Idioms: let someone have it, sock it to someone. See ATTACK, STRIKE. 12. To become affected with a disease: contract, develop, get, sicken, take. Idiom: come down with. See GET. 13. To perceive and recognize the meaning of. Also used with on: accept, apprehend, compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, grasp, make out, read, see, sense, take, take in, understand. Informal: savvy. Slang: dig. Chiefly British: twig. Scots: ken. Idioms: get (or have) a handle on, get the picture. See UNDERSTAND. II noun 1. The act of catching, especially a sudden taking and holding: clutch1, grab, seizure, snatch. See GET. 2. A device for fastening or for checking motion: clasp, fastener, hook. See MOVE. 3. Informal. A person or thing worth catching: plum, prize1. Slang: brass ring. See DESIRE. 4. Informal A tricky or unsuspected condition: rub, snag. See LIMITED.