Meaning of the word catch up

catch up vb (adverb)

1. (transitive) to seize and take up (something) quickly
2. when intr, often followed by with: to reach or pass (someone or something), after following: he soon caught him up
3. (intr; usually followed by on or with) to make up for lost ground or deal with a backlog (in some specified task or activity)
4. (tr; often passive) to absorb or involve: she was caught up in her reading
5. (transitive) to raise by or as if by fastening

ˈcatch-ˌup, adj. [before a noun]

1. intended to keep up with or surpass a standard or a competitor: catch-up pay raises.

Idioms

1. Idioms play catch-up, to attempt to overtake a competitor by using desperate methods:We were forced to play catch-up and take chances.

catch•up /ˈkætʃəp, ˈkɛtʃ-/USA pronunciation  
n. 

1. Food ketchup.

catch /kætʃ/USA pronunciation  
v., caught/kɔt/USA pronunciation  catch•ing, n. 
v.

1. [~ + object] to seize or capture, esp. after chasing: The police tried for weeks to catch the thief.
2. to trap or ensnare:[~ + object]I was caught in a dead-end job.
3. [~ + object] to take and hold (something thrown, etc.): She caught the ball.
4. to surprise or notice, as in some action: [~ + object + verb-ing][~ + object]I caught them cheating.[~ + object]She caught me in the act of cheating on my test.
5. to find (someone) in a particular condition, usually missing something:[~ + object]He was caught with his guard down (= He was not prepared).
6. [~ + object] to receive, incur, or contract (a disease): He caught a cold at the overnight party.
7. to be in time to get aboard:[~ + object]We caught the train at Trondheim.
8. [~ + object] to take hold of;
   clasp: He caught her in an embrace.
9. to (cause to or allow to) become gripped, stuck, or entangled: [~ + object]I caught my coat on that nail and it ripped.[no object]My sleeve caught on that nail.
10. to attract;
    charm;
    attract the attention of:[~ + object]She was caught by his winning smile.
11. to hold (oneself) back or restrain (oneself) suddenly:[~ + oneself]He had to catch himself so that he wouldn’t overreact.
12. [~ + object] to see or attend (a show, etc.): Did you catch that new musical?
13. [~ + object] to strike;
    hit: The blow caught him on the head.
14. to fasten with or as if with a catch;
    to (cause to) take hold: [no object]The lock won’t catch.[~ + object]See if you can catch the lock on the chain.
15. [~ + object] to grasp with the intellect;
    comprehend: I caught the meaning of that joke but didn’t dare laugh.
16. to hear clearly:[~ + object]I couldn’t catch what you said; could you repeat that?
17. to be aware of (a smell, etc.):[~ + object]I caught a whiff of her perfume.
18. [~ + object] to record or represent successfully: This photo caught her expression perfectly.
19. to become lighted;
    ignite:[no object]The green logs just won’t catch.
20. catch at, [~ + at + object] to grasp at eagerly:The children caught at the teacher’s skirt.
21. Dialect Terms catch on, [no object]
    • to become popular:For a long while her songs just didn’t catch on.
    • to grasp the meaning;
      understand:I’m a little slow but eventually I catch on.[~ + on + to + object]She didn’t catch on to my explanation.

22. catch out, [ ~ + obj + out] to catch or discover in lies or an error:They caught him out in a lie.
23. catch up,
    • [~ + up + with/to + object] to overtake someone or something moving:I caught up with her and pulled her arm.
    • [~ + up + with + object] to overwhelm suddenly:The truth caught up with him and he realized what he had done.
    • [~ + up + on + object] to do enough so that one is no longer behind:He was catching up on his work on weekends.
    • [usually: be + caught + up] to be involved or interested in very strongly:He was caught up in his work and neglected his family.

n.

1. [countable] the act of catching.
2. [countable] anything that catches, esp. a device for slowing motion, as a handle on a window.
3. [countable] any tricky or concealed problem or drawback: There must be a catch somewhere.
4. a slight, momentary break or crack in the voice:[countable* usually singular]She answered with a catch in her voice and started to cry.
5. something caught, as a quantity of fish:[countable]We brought home quite a catch.
6. a person or thing worth getting, esp. as a desirable partner in marriage:[countable]What a catch she would be.
7. Games a game in which a ball is thrown from one person to another:[uncountable]We went out in the yard to play catch.

Idioms

1. Idioms, Informal Terms catch it, Informal. to receive a reprimand or punishment:You’ll really catch it if you don’t finish your homework.

catch•a•ble, adj. 

catch-up 
(kach′up′),USA pronunciation n. 

1. an effort to reach or pass a norm, esp. after a period of delay:After the slowdown there was a catch-up in production.
2. an effort to catch up with or surpass a competitor, as in a sports contest.
3. an instance of catching up.
4. Idioms, Informal Terms play catch-up, [Informal.]to make a special effort to overcome a late start, a liability, or the advantage a competitor has:After Russia launched the first space satellite, other countries had to play catch-up.

adj.

1. intended to keep up with or surpass a norm or competitor:a catch-up pay raise to offset inflation.

catch•up 
(kach′əp, kech′-),USA pronunciation n. 

1. Foodketchup.

catch 
(kach),USA pronunciation v., caught, catch•ing, n., adj. 
v.t.

1. to seize or capture, esp. after pursuit:to catch a criminal; to catch a runaway horse.
2. to trap or ensnare:to catch a fish.
3. to intercept and seize;
   take and hold (something thrown, falling, etc.):to catch a ball; a barrel to catch rain.
4. to come upon suddenly;
   surprise or detect, as in some action:I caught him stealing the pumpkin.
5. to receive, incur, or contract:to catch a cold.
6. to be in time to get aboard (a train, boat, etc.).
7. to lay hold of;
   grasp;
   clasp:He caught her arm.
8. to grip, hook, or entangle:The closing door caught his arm.
9. to allow (something) to become gripped, hooked, snagged, or entangled:He caught his coat on a nail.
10. to attract or arrest:The painting caught his fancy. His speech caught our attention.
11. to check or restrain suddenly (often used reflexively):She caught her breath in surprise. He caught himself before he said the wrong thing.
12. to see or attend:to catch a show.
13. to strike;
    hit:The blow caught him on the head.
14. to become inspired by or aware of:I caught the spirit of the occasion.
15. to fasten with or as if with a catch:to catch the clasp on a necklace.
16. to deceive:No one was caught by his sugary words.
17. to attract the attention of;
    captivate;
    charm:She was caught by his smile and good nature.
18. to grasp with the intellect;
    comprehend:She failed to catch his meaning.
19. to hear clearly:We caught snatches of their conversation.
20. to apprehend and record;
    capture:The painting caught her expression perfectly.
21. Dialect Terms[South Midland and Southern U.S.]to assist at the birth of:The town doctor caught more than four hundred children before he retired.

v.i.

1. to become gripped, hooked, or entangled:Her foot caught in the net.
2. to overtake someone or something moving (usually fol. by up, up with, or up to).
3. to take hold:The door lock doesn’t catch.
4. Sport[Baseball.]to play the position of catcher:He catches for the Yankees.
5. to become lighted;
   take fire;
   ignite:The kindling caught instantly.
6. Agriculture, Botanyto become established, as a crop or plant, after germination and sprouting.
7. Idioms catch a crab, (in rowing) to bungle a stroke by failing to get the oar into the water at the beginning or by failing to withdraw it properly at the end.
8. catch at, to grasp at eagerly;
   accept readily:He caught at the chance to get free tickets.
9. Nautical catch a turn, to wind a rope around a bitt, capstan, etc., for one full turn.
10. catch it, [Informal.]to receive a reprimand or punishment:He’ll catch it from his mother for tearing his good trousers again.
11. Dialect Terms catch on:
    • to become popular:That new song is beginning to catch on.
    • to grasp mentally;
      understand:You’d think he’d catch on that he’s boring us.
    • Dialect Terms[New England.](in cooking) to scorch or burn slightly;
      sear:A pot roast is better if allowed to catch on.

12. British Terms catch out, [Chiefly Brit.]to catch or discover (a person) in deceit or an error.
13. catch up:
    • to lift or snatch suddenly:Leaves were caught up in the wind.
    • to bring or get up to date (often fol. by on or with):to catch up on one’s reading.
    • to come up to or overtake (something or someone) (usually fol. by with):to catch up with the leader in a race.
    • to become involved or entangled with:caught up in the excitement of the crowd.
    • to point out to (a person) minor errors, untruths, etc. (usually fol. by on):We caught the teacher up on a number of factual details.
    • Sport[Falconry.]to capture for further training (a hawk that has been flown at hack).
    • Dialect Terms[South Midland and Southern U.S.]to harness (a horse or mule).

n.

1. the act of catching.
2. anything that catches, esp. a device for checking motion, as a latch on a door.
3. any tricky or concealed drawback:It seems so easy that there must be a catch somewhere.
4. a slight, momentary break or crack in the voice.
5. that which is caught, as a quantity of fish:The fisherman brought home a large catch.
6. a person or thing worth getting, esp. a person regarded as a desirable matrimonial prospect:My mother thinks Pat would be quite a catch.
7. Gamesa game in which a ball is thrown from one person to another:to play catch; to have a catch.
8. a fragment:catches of a song.
9. Music and Dancea round, esp. one in which the words are so arranged as to produce ludicrous effects.
10. Sportthe catching and holding of a batted or thrown ball before it touches the ground.
11. Sport[Rowing.]the first part of the stroke, consisting of the placing of the oar into the water.
12. Agriculturethe establishment of a crop from seed:a catch of clover.

adj.

1. catchy (def. 3).

catch′a•ble, adj. 

• 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged apprehend, arrest.
• 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Catch, clutch, grasp, seize imply taking hold suddenly of something.
  To catch may be to reach after and get:He caught my hand.To clutch is to take firm hold of (often out of fear or nervousness), and retain:The child clutched her mother’s hand.To grasp also suggests both getting and keeping hold of, with a connotation of eagerness and alertness, rather than fear (literally or figuratively):to grasp someone’s hand in welcome; to grasp an idea.To seize implies the use of force or energy in taking hold of suddenly (literally or figuratively):to seize a criminal; to seize an opportunity.
• 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged enchant, fascinate, win.
• 35.See corresponding entry in Unabridged capture, apprehension, arrest.
• 36.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ratchet, bolt.

• 1, 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged
• 35.See corresponding entry in Unabridged release.