caught (See catch)

1 a hidden drawback; "it sounds good but what's the catch?"

2 the quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish" [syn: haul]

3 a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect [syn: match]

4 anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching); "he shared his catch with the others"

5 a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion)

6 a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open" [syn: stop]

7 a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window

8 a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth; "he played catch with his son in the backyard"

9 the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion" [syn: grab, snatch, snap]

10 the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar" [syn: apprehension, arrest, collar, pinch, taking into custody]

1 discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state; "She caught her son eating candy"; "She was caught shoplifting"

2 perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily; "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse" [syn: pick up]

3 reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot; "the rock caught her in the back of the head"; "The blow got him in the back"; "The punch caught him in the stomach" [syn: get]

4 take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of; "Catch the ball!"; "Grab the elevator door!" [syn: grab, take hold of]

5 succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase; "We finally got the suspect"; "Did you catch the thief?" [syn: get, capture]

6 to hook or entangle; "One foot caught in the stirrup" [syn: hitch] [ant: unhitch]

7 attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter" [syn: arrest, get]

8 capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap toady" [syn: capture]

9 reach in time; "I have to catch a train at 7 o'clock"

10 get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly; "Catch some sleep"; "catch one's breath"

11 catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp" [syn: overtake, catch up with]

12 be struck or affected by; "catch fire"; "catch the mood"

13 check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind"

14 hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We overheard the conversation at the next table" [syn: take in, overhear]

15 see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program will be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition"; "Catch a show on Broadway"; "see a movie" [syn: watch, view, see, take in]

16 cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled; "I caught the hem of my dress in the brambles"

17 detect a blunder or misstep; "The reporter tripped up the senator" [syn: trip up]

18 grasp with the mind or develop an undersatnding of; "did you catch that allusion?"; "We caught something of his theory in the lecture"; "don't catch your meaning"; "did you get it?"; "She didn't get the joke"; "I just don't get him" [syn: get]

19 contract; "did you catch a cold?"

20 start burning; "The fire caught"

21 perceive by hearing; "I didn't catch your name"; "She didn't get his name when they met the first time" [syn: get]

22 suffer from the receipt of; "She will catch hell for this behavior!" [syn: get]

23 attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's hearts" [syn: capture, enamour, trance, becharm, enamor, captivate, beguile, charm, fascinate, bewitch, entrance, enchant]

24 apprehend and reproduce accurately; "She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings"; "She got the mood just right in her photographs" [syn: get]

25 take in and retain; "We have a big barrel to catch the rainwater"

26 spread or be communicated; "The fashion did not catch"

27 be the catcher; "Who is catching?"

28 become aware of; "he caught her staring out the window"

29 delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned; "I was caught in traffic and missed the meeting" [also: caught]

English

Pronunciation

• a UK /kɔːt/
• a US

• Rhymes with: -ɔːt

Adjective

1. Of the method of being out in which the striker hits the ball and a fielder catches it.

Verb

caught

1. past of catch

Derived terms

• caught in the act
• caught red-handed
• caught with one's hand in the cookie jar

Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. Being out caught is the most common method of dismissal. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 32 of the Laws of cricket which reads:

''A batsman is out caught if a fielder catches the ball fully within the field of play without it bouncing once the ball has touched the striker's bat or glove holding the bat. If a batsman could be given out caught or by any other method except bowled, 'caught' takes precedence.''

This means that the batsman cannot be out caught if:

• The ball is called a no ball or dead ball.
• The batsman does not hit the ball with his bat or the gloved hand holding the bat.
• The ball, having been hit, makes contact with the field before a fielder catches the ball.
• The ball does not remain under the control of the fielder.
• The ball is hit and lands beyond the boundary; (six runs).
• A fielder taking the catch makes contact with the boundary rope or the area outside the boundary.

If a batsman is out caught, any runs scored off that delivery are voided. If the catch is taken by the wicket-keeper, then informally it is known as a "caught behind". A catch by the bowler is known as a "caught and bowled" (this has nothing to do with the dismissal bowled), and is usually annotated on a scorecard as c. and b. or c&b followed by the bowler's name.

If the catch taken is pronounced or obvious, the players need not appeal to the umpire; the batsman normally chooses to acknowledge the dismissal himself. However, in the event that the ball brushes the edge of the bat, or the catch is taken very close to the ground, or the ball appears to have bounced off the batsman's foot (so it has not touched the ground), or the ball appearing to come off the bat very close to the pitch surface (bump ball), or if the batsman is reluctant to accept that he has been dismissed, the fielding team has to appeal to the umpire for this decision.

If a batsman is caught, the bowler is credited with the batsman's wicket. If the two batsmen cross each other, in attempting to take a run, before the catch was taken, the new incoming batsman becomes the non-striker with the exception being when the wicket falling in the last ball of an over, when if the batsmen cross the new batsman will be on strike.

Celebration

Before 2000, the Laws of Cricket defined a catch as being completed when the player had "complete control over the further disposal of the ball". In the very strictest sense, this meant that the player did not finish catching the ball until he or she threw it away, either to another player or to no person in particular.

For this reason, even today cricketers celebrate a catch by lobbing the ball high into the air.

aground, anchored, arrested, chained, charmed, enchanted, enthralled, fascinated, fast, fastened, fixed, gripped, grounded, held, high and dry, hypnotized, impacted, inextricable, jammed, mesmerized, moored, packed, rapt, spellbound, stranded, stuck, stuck fast, tethered, tied, transfixed, wedged