catch · v
catch sb's attention, interest, etc.
B2 to make someone notice something and feel interested
Dictionary examples:
A ship out at sea caught his attention. (17.4)
catch (DISCOVER)
B2 to discover someone who is doing something wrong or something secret
Dictionary examples:
He caught her reading his old love letters. (13.8)
She was caught cheating on the exam. (48.9)
catch (CRIMINAL)
B2 If the police catch a criminal, they find them and take them away.
Dictionary examples:
These terrorists must be caught. (21.9)
catch your breath
C1 to rest for a short time until you can breathe regularly again
Dictionary examples:
Let's stop here and catch our breath. (22.8)
be/get caught
C2 to be unable to avoid something unpleasant
Dictionary examples:
I got caught in the rain. (5.9)
catch (STICK)
C2 to stick somewhere, or to make something stick somewhere
Dictionary examples:
My dress caught on the door handle as I was leaving. (40.5)
catch sight of sth
C2 to see something suddenly, often only for a short time
Dictionary examples:
He caught sight of himself in the mirror. (18.6)
catch sb's eye
C2 to get someone's attention by looking at them
Dictionary examples:
I tried to catch her eye, but she had already turned away. (19.4)
catch sb's eye
C2 to be attractive or different enough to be noticed by people
Dictionary examples:
It was the color of his jacket that caught my eye. (26.8)
catch sb off guard
C2 to surprise someone by doing something when they are not ready to deal with it
Dictionary examples:
The journalist caught him off guard and he admitted to lying. (37.2)
catch (TAKE HOLD)
A1 to take hold of something, especially something that is moving through the air
Dictionary examples:
I can't catch my flying homework! (0.0)
I can't catch my flying sandwich! (0.0)
She tried to catch falling ice cream. (0.0)
Try to catch the ball. (19.8)
She fell backwards but he caught her in his arms. (60.8)
catch (TRAVEL)
A1 to get on a bus, train, etc. in order to travel somewhere
Dictionary examples:
We catch the happy bus to school. (0.0)
I catch the funny bus to work. (0.0)
He catches the silly train every day. (0.0)
He catches the 8:30 train into the city every morning. (22.2)
I got there too late to catch the last bus home. (22.5)
catch (ILLNESS)
A2 to get an illness, especially one caused by bacteria or a virus
Dictionary examples:
I caught laughter from my funny friend. Now I can't stop giggling! (0.0)
I caught a bad case of forgetfulness. What was I saying? (0.0)
I caught a severe case of can't-wake-up this morning. (0.0)
He's caught a cold. (10.8)
He caught the flu while we were on vacation. (21.9)
catch (STOP ESCAPING)
B1 to find and stop a person or animal that is trying to escape
Dictionary examples:
The teacher caught the student trying to sneak out of class in a cardboard box. (0.0)
They caught the escaped monkey eating bananas in the principal's office. (0.0)
The police caught the bank robber hiding in a giant teddy bear at the toy store. (0.0)
They caught a lot of fish that day. (10.1)
Did they ever catch the terrorists? (27.5)
catch fire
B1 to start burning
Dictionary examples:
The teacher's wig caught fire during the science experiment. (0.0)
My homework caught fire when I said the dog ate it. (0.0)
My pants caught fire while I was lying about my homework. (0.0)
The factory caught fire late yesterday evening. (20.2)