late Middle English (in the sense ‘selling, a bargain’): from obsolete acate ‘purchasing, things purchased’, from Old French acat, achat, from acater, achater ‘buy’, based on Latin captare ‘seize’, from capere ‘take’.
cate se related video banaingq
carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
: any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (such as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah) GUY
some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him
—Jack Kerouac
b player or devotee of jazz
: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
4
CATBOAT
CATAMARAN
CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS
CATFISH sense 1
a malicious woman
especially : one given to making catty remarks about other women
cat
2 of 5
verb
catted; catting
intransitive verb
usually vulgar : to search for a sexual mate —often used with around
transitive verb
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
cat
3 of 5
abbreviation (1)
1
catalog
2
catalyst
Cat
4 of 5
trademark
ˈkat
—used for a Caterpillar tractor
CAT
5 of 5
abbreviation (2)
1
clean-air turbulence
2
computerized axial tomography
Synonyms
Noun
feline
house cat
kitty
moggy [British]
moggie
puss
pussy
pussycat
Example Sentences
Noun
I have two dogs and a cat.
the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The cat’s food dish is in the basement, kept separate from the dog’s dish in the kitchen.
—Judith Martin, oregonlive, 22 Apr. 2023
Even a few grains of pollen or drinking water from a vase that contains lilies can be fatal for your cat.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 22 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of cat was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing cat
alley cat
bell the cat
big cat
cat and mouse
cat-a-mountain
cat-o'-nine-tails
See More
Articles Related to cat
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7 Unfamiliar Words for Familiar...
Dictionary Entries Near cat
CAT
cat
Cat
Cite this Entry
Style
MLA
“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023.
Copy Citation
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cate se related video banaingq
carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
: any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (such as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah) GUY
some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him
—Jack Kerouac
b player or devotee of jazz
: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
4
CATBOAT
CATAMARAN
CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS
CATFISH sense 1
a malicious woman
especially : one given to making catty remarks about other women
cat
2 of 5
verb
catted; catting
intransitive verb
usually vulgar : to search for a sexual mate —often used with around
transitive verb
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
cat
3 of 5
abbreviation (1)
1
catalog
2
catalyst
Cat
4 of 5
trademark
ˈkat
—used for a Caterpillar tractor
CAT
5 of 5
abbreviation (2)
1
clean-air turbulence
2
computerized axial tomography
Synonyms
Noun
feline
house cat
kitty
moggy [British]
moggie
puss
pussy
pussycat
Example Sentences
Noun
I have two dogs and a cat.
the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The cat’s food dish is in the basement, kept separate from the dog’s dish in the kitchen.
—Judith Martin, oregonlive, 22 Apr. 2023
Even a few grains of pollen or drinking water from a vase that contains lilies can be fatal for your cat.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 22 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of cat was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing cat
alley cat
bell the cat
big cat
cat and mouse
cat-a-mountain
cat-o'-nine-tails
See More
Articles Related to cat
lion friends
What to Call That Weird Thing Your Pet...
image2036561122
Sly Fox, Fat Cat: Animal Names for...
camelopard
7 Unfamiliar Words for Familiar...
Dictionary Entries Near cat
CAT
cat
Cat
Cite this Entry
Style
MLA
“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023.
Copy Citation
Share
Post the Definition of cat to Facebook
Share the Definition of cat on Twitter
MERRIAM-WEBSTER UNABRIDGED
Play Quordle Game
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play
WORD OF THE DAY
sinecure
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Your email address
WORDS AT PLAY
12 political putdowns kakistocracy
12 Political Putdowns
For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough
image2135812303
Absent Letters That Are Heard Anyway
When letters make sounds that aren't associated w...
image1650711902
Better Ways to Say "This Sucks"
Go on...make your English teacher proud.
merriam webster time traveler
When Were Words First Used?
Look up any
- Catégories
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