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cat1 definition

cat (kat)

noun pl. cats or cat

  1. any of a family (Felidae) of carnivores, including the lion, tiger, cougar, etc., characterized by a lithe body and, in all species but the cheetah, retractile claws
  2. a small, lithe, soft-furred animal (Felis cattus) of this family, domesticated since ancient times and often kept as a pet or for killing mice
    1. a person regarded as a cat in some way
    2. a woman who makes spiteful remarks
  4. cat-o'-nine-tails
  5. ☆ a catfish
  6. a catboat
  7. tipcat
  8. ☆ caterpillar (tractor)
  9. ☆ Slang
    1. a jazz musician or enthusiast
    2. any person, esp. a man
  10. Naut. a tackle for hoisting an anchor to the cathead

Etymology: ME & OE, both < a general European root < LL cattus; prob. of Afr orig.

transitive verb catted cat′·ted, catting cat′·ting

to hoist (an anchor) to the cathead
cat Idioms

cat around

☆
Slang to search promiscuously for sexual partners; be promiscuous: said of a man

let the cat out of the bag

to let a secret be found out
cat2 definition

cat

  1. catalog
  2. catechism
CAT definition

CAT

clear-air turbulence

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

telecom .cat definition - telecom

idioms cat idiom

medical CAT definition - medical

telecom Cat definition - telecom

cat Synonyms

cat

n.

  1. A domestic animal

    tomcat, tom, kitten, feline, tabby, kitty*, kit*, puss*, pussy*, pussycat*, grimalkin*, mouser. *

    Varieties of domestic cats include: Abyssinian, Maltese, Persian, Himalayan, Kashmir, Siamese, Korat, Manx, Burmese, Sphynx, Angora, British blue, Russian blue, Maine coon, Scottish fold, Egyptian Mau; alley, tiger, tabby, calico, tortoiseshell, shorthair, longhair, wirehair, bobtail.

  2. A member of the cat family

    feline, lion, tiger, leopard, panther, liger, tiglon, puma, wildcat, cheetah, lynx, bobcat, mountain lion, ocelot, serval, bushcat, cougar, mountain cat, painter, catamount, jaguar.

  3. *A caterpillar vehicle

    caterpillar, caterpillar tractor, tank, tractor, bulldozer, half-track, mucker*, hush-hush*, kitty*, landship*; see also tank 2, tractor, truck 1.

let the cat out of the bag*

expose, tell a secret, let slip*; see reveal 1, tell 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

cat Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • prowl: But this is the real world: computers experience problems, systems are susceptible to downtime and there´s always a cat on the prowl.

Adjective modifier

  • stray: Would they also have held you liable if a stray cat had come in from the cold?

Modifies a noun

  • flap: He could probably live with other cats and is used to a cat flap and uses his letter tray.

Possessives

  • whisker: Janet, 51, will lead a 15-strong in-house team cover... 29/07/2005 New-look website is the cat's whiskers!

Noun used with modifier

  • tortie: Kiania's tortie cat With a deft leap, Sier joins you in the fountain!
cat usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

cat quotes

Massermann, the cat man, Makes cats neurotic. 1899 Are cats and humans Similarly symptotic?

-Anonymous

Cruel, but composed and bland, Dumb, inscrutable and grand, SoTiberius might have sat, Had Tiberius been a cat.

-Arnold, Matthew

Serves you right, you horrid brat For what you did to that poor cat.

-Bemelmans, Ludwig

cat quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"cat." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/cat>

APA Style

cat. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/cat

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