Catch v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught ∨ Catched p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.]
 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.”
 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”.
 5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. “Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue.”
 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.