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A small lock; a catch or spring to fasten a necklace or other ornament.

To fail to obtain or enjoy; to fail to gain or win; hence, to fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss; as, I lost a part of what he said. He shall in no wise lose his reward. Matt. x. 42. I fought the battle bravely which I lost, And lost it but to Macedonians. Dryden.

is conveyed under public authority. -- Mail boat, a boat that carries the mail. -- Mail catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion. -- Mail guard, an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.] -- Mail train, a railroad t…

A contrivance or maneuvering to catch game illegally.

A trap for catching trespassers. [Eng.]

Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium. Match bo…

To catch in a mesh. Surrey.

To watch for and catch mice.

A cat that catches mice.

To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it.

Of or pertaining to the Muscicapidæ, a family of birds that includes the true flycatchers.

Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as, mushroom catchup.

To catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly. [Colloq.] Smollett.

o bind or hold, as to a bargain or to acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap. When they came to talk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Goldsmith.

A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.

To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon. May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress. Tennyson.

s for seizing an object and holding or conveying it; as, in a printing press, a clasp for catching a sheet and conveying it to the form.

Not contagious; not catching; not communicable by contact. -- Non`con*ta"gious*ness, n.

To tie in a noose; to catch in a noose; to entrap; to insnare.

Attempt; endeavor; essay; as, he made an offer to catch the ball. "Some offer and attempt." South.