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.-to seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief.-to take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.-hence: to insnare; to entangle.-to seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody.-to communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.-to engage and attach; to please; to charm.-to get possession of; to attain.-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.-to come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.-to reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.-to attain possession.-to be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.-to take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.-to spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.-act of seizing; a grasp.-that by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.-the posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch.-that which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.-something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony.-passing opportunities seized; snatches.-a slight remembrance; a trace.-a humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.