cat

[ kat ]

/ kæt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR cat ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small domesticated carnivore, Felis domestica or F. catus, bred in a number of varieties.

any of several carnivores of the family Felidae, as the lion, tiger, leopard or jaguar, etc.

Slang.

a person, especially a man.
a devotee of jazz.

a woman given to spiteful or malicious gossip.

the fur of the domestic cat.

a cat-o'-nine-tails.

Games.

Chiefly British. the tapering piece of wood used in the game of tipcat.
Chiefly British. the game itself.
four old cat, one old cat, three old cat, two old cat.

a catboat.

a catamaran.

a catfish.

Nautical. a tackle used in hoisting an anchor to the cathead.

a double tripod having six legs but resting on only three no matter how it is set down, usually used before or over a fire.

Navy Informal. catapult(def 2).

(in medieval warfare) a movable shelter for providing protection when approaching a fortification.

verb (used with object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

to flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails.

Nautical. to hoist (an anchor) and secure to a cathead.

verb (used without object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

British Slang. to vomit.

Verb Phrases

cat around, Slang.

to spend one's time aimlessly or idly.
to seek sexual activity indiscriminately; tomcat.

Idioms for cat

bell the cat, to attempt something formidable or dangerous.

let the cat out of the bag, to divulge a secret, especially inadvertently or carelessly: He let the cat out of the bag, and the surprise party wasn't a surprise after all.

Origin of cat

before 900; Middle English cat, catte, Old English catt (masculine), catte (feminine); cognate with Old Frisian, Middle Dutch katte, Old High German kazza, Old Norse kǫttr, Irish cat, Welsh cath (Slavic *kotŭ, Lithuanian katė̃ perhaps < Gmc), Late Latin cattus, catta (first attested in the 4th century, presumably with the introduction of domestic cats); ultimately origin obscure

Words nearby cat

casuarina, casuist, casuistic, casuistry, casus belli, cat, cat and mouse, cat brier, cat burglar, cat cafe, cat cracker

Definition for cats (2 of 2)

Cat

[ kat ]

/ kæt /

Trademark.

a Caterpillar tractor.

Example sentences from the Web for cats

A number of clearly partisan studies have suggested that cats are unfeeling and sociopathic.

Sorry, Internet: Pope Francis Didn't Open Paradise to Pets |Candida Moss |December 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
None, however, have been as all-out cute as this one, a shot-for-shot remake of the teaser with dogs and cats.

'Star Wars' Goes to the Dogs (and Cats) |Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Yes, animal rights activists are trying to ban the eating of cats and dogs in Switzerland.

Will the Swiss Quit Cooking their Kittens and Puppies? |Barbie Latza Nadeau |November 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Sailor Senshi rely on a central command which is run by two cats, Artemis and Luna.

‘Sailor Moon’ Is an Oasis for Superheroes Who Can Save the Universe in Heels |Rich Goldstein |November 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

She lives in Portland, Oregon, with two cats, one Canadian, and 60,000 honeybees.

Book Bag: 5 Novels Shakespeare Sort of Wrote |Lois Leveen |October 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The symptoms were the same as those observed in cats and rabbits after the administration of caffein.

The Toxicity of Caffein |William Salant
Cats plunged toward the new radiation in the box beyond the hold entrance.

Feline Red |Robert Sampson
But cats will often leave a house and never return, if they have been threatened with a severe licking.

Cats |W. Gordon Stables
Cats often show that they possess some of the vices as well as some of the virtues of human beings.

Stories of Animal Sagacity |W.H.G. Kingston
A supply of pure water should be kept within the cats reach.

The Cat |Philip M. Rule

British Dictionary definitions for cats (1 of 5)

CATS

/ (kæts) /

n acronym for

credit accumulation transfer scheme: a scheme enabling school-leavers and others to acquire transferable certificates for relevant work experience and study towards a recognized qualification

British Dictionary definitions for cats (2 of 5)

CAT

abbreviation for

computer-aided teaching

computer-assisted trading

British Dictionary definitions for cats (3 of 5)

cat ¹

/ (kæt) /

noun

Also called: domestic cat a small domesticated feline mammal, Felis catus (or domesticus), having thick soft fur and occurring in many breeds in which the colour of the fur varies greatly: kept as a pet or to catch rats and mice

Also called: big cat any of the larger felines, such as a lion or tiger

any wild feline mammal of the genus Felis, such as the lynx or serval, resembling the domestic cat Related adjective: feline

old-fashioned a woman who gossips maliciously

slang a man; guy

nautical a heavy tackle for hoisting an anchor to the cathead

a short sharp-ended piece of wood used in the game of tipcat

short for catboat

informal short for Caterpillar

short for cat-o'-nine-tails

a bag of cats Irish informal a bad-tempered person she's a real bag of cats this morning

fight like Kilkenny cats to fight until both parties are destroyed

let the cat out of the bag to disclose a secret, often by mistake

like a cat on a hot tin roof or like a cat on hot bricks in an uneasy or agitated state

like cat and dog quarrelling savagely

look like something the cat brought in to appear dishevelled or bedraggled

not a cat in hell's chance no chance at all

not have room to swing a cat to have very little space

play cat and mouse to play with a person or animal in a cruel or teasing way, esp before a final act of cruelty or unkindness

put the cat among the pigeons to introduce some violently disturbing new element

rain cats and dogs to rain very heavily

verb cats, catting or catted

(tr) to flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails

(tr) nautical to hoist (an anchor) to the cathead

(intr) a slang word for vomit

Derived forms of cat

catlike, adjective cattish, adjective

Word Origin for cat

Old English catte, from Latin cattus; related to Old Norse köttr, Old High German kazza, Old French chat, Russian kot

British Dictionary definitions for cats (4 of 5)

cat ²

/ (kæt) /

noun

informal short for catamaran (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for cats (5 of 5)

cat ³

/ (kæt) /

noun

short for catalytic converter
(as modifier)a cat car

adjective

short for catalytic a cat cracker

Medical definitions for cats

CAT

abbr.

computerized axial tomography

Idioms and Phrases with cats

cat

In addition to the idioms beginning with cat

cat got one's tongue

also see:

alley cat
bell the cat
curiosity killed the cat
fat cat
grin like a Cheshire cat
let the cat out of the bag
like a cat on a hot brick
look like something the cat dragged in
look like the cat that ate the canary
more than one way to skin a cat
not enough room to swing a cat
play cat and mouse
rain cats and dogs
when the cat's away

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cat

noun

verb (used with object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

verb (used without object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for cat

Origin of cat

Words nearby cat

Definition for cats (2 of 2)

Trademark.

Example sentences from the Web for cats

British Dictionary definitions for cats (1 of 5)

n acronym for

British Dictionary definitions for cats (2 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for cats (3 of 5)

noun

verb cats, catting or catted

Derived forms of cat

Word Origin for cat

British Dictionary definitions for cats (4 of 5)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for cats (5 of 5)

noun

adjective

Medical definitions for cats

abbr.

Idioms and Phrases with cats

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cat

noun

verb (used with object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

verb (used without object), cat·ted, cat·ting.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for cat

Origin of cat

Words nearby cat

Definition for cats (2 of 2)

Trademark.

Words related to cats

Example sentences from the Web for cats

British Dictionary definitions for cats (1 of 5)

n acronym for

British Dictionary definitions for cats (2 of 5)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for cats (3 of 5)

noun

verb cats, catting or catted

Derived forms of cat

Word Origin for cat

British Dictionary definitions for cats (4 of 5)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for cats (5 of 5)

noun

adjective

Medical definitions for cats

abbr.

Idioms and Phrases with cats