Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster [205]
1 : to capture esp. after pursuit
2 : to capture, take, or entangle in or as if in a snare : TRAP
3 : to discover unexpectedly 4 : to become suddenly aware of 5 : to take hold of : SNATCH <~ at a straw> 6 : stop or interrupt the progress or course of 7 : to get entangled 8 : to become affected with or by <~ fire> <~ cold> 9 a : to seize and hold firmly b : to cause to be seized and held 10 : OVERTAKE 11 : to be in time for <~ a train> 12 : to take in and retain 13 : to look at or listen to Synonyms [2, 9a] bag, capture, collar, corral, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, seize, snare, trap; also lasso, rope; apprehend, arrest, detain; clasp, clutch, grasp, grip, hold, secure; ensnare, entangle, entrap; abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off) Antonyms miss [5] collar, grab, nab, seize, snap, snatch [6] arrest, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, hold up, stall, stay, still, stop—more at HALT [8] come down, contract, get, sicken, take—more at CONTRACT 2catch noun 1 a : something caught b : the total quantity caught at one time 2 : the act of catching; also : a game consisting of throwing and catching a ball 3 : something that catches or checks or holds immovable 4 : one that is worth catching or acquiring esp. as a mate 5 : FRAGMENT, SNATCH 6 : a concealed difficulty or complication Synonyms [1b] haul, take, yield—more at HAUL [4] gem, jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure—more at PRIZE [6] booby trap, pitfall, snag—more at PITFALL catch·all noun : something to hold a variety of odds and ends catch–as–catch–can adjective : using any means available catch·er noun : one that catches; especially : a player positioned behind home plate in baseball catch·ing adjective 1 : communicable by infection : CONTAGIOUS 2 : spreading or capable of spreading rapidly to others Synonyms [1, 2] communicable, contagious, transmittable—more at CONTAGIOUS catch·ment noun 1 : something that catches water 2 : the action of catching water catch on verb 1 a : to become aware : LEARN b : to grasp the meaning of : UNDERSTAND 2 : to become popular Synonyms [1a] ascertain, discover, find out, hear, learn, realize, see—more at DISCOVER usually catch on to [1b] appreciate, apprehend, catch, comprehend, get, grasp, make, make out, perceive, see, seize, tumble, understand—more at COMPREHEND catch·pen·ny adjective : using sensationalism or cheapness for appeal catch·phrase noun : a word or expression frequently used to represent or characterize a person, group, idea, or point of view catch–22 noun, plural catch–22's or catch–22s often cap C [ORIGIN: fr. Catch-22, a paradoxical rule found in the novel Catch-22 (1961) by Joseph Heller] : a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule; also : the circumstance or rule that denies a solution catchup variant of KETCHUP catch up verb : to travel or work fast enough to overtake or complete catch·word noun 1 : GUIDE WORD 2 : CATCHPHRASE catchy adjective catch·i·er; -est 1 : likely to catch the interest or attention 2 : requiring skill or caution (as in doing or handling) : TRICKY Synonyms [1] bold, conspicuous, emphatic, marked, noticeable, prominent, pronounced, remarkable, striking—more at NOTICEABLE [2] delicate, difficult, knotty, problematic, spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricky—more at TRICKY cat·e·chism noun : a summary or test (as of religious doctrine) usu. in the form of questions and answers — cat·e·chist noun — cat·e·chize verb cat·e·chu·men noun : a religious convert receiving training before baptism cat·e·gor·i·cal adjective 1 : not modified or restricted : ABSOLUTE, UNQUALIFIED 2 : of, relating to, or constituting a category — cat·e·gor·i·cal·ly adverb cat·e·go·rize verb -rized; -riz·ing : to put into a category