noun1. 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
2. Also called: big cat any of the larger felines, such as a lion or tiger
3. any wild feline mammal of the genus Felis, such as the lynx or serval, resembling the domestic cat
▶ Related adjective:
feline 4. old-fashioned, derogatory a woman who gossips maliciously
6. nautical a heavy tackle for hoisting an anchor to the cathead
7. a short sharp-ended piece of wood used in the game of tipcat
8. short for catboat
9. short for cat-o'-nine-tails
10. a bag of cats
11. fight like Kilkenny cats
12. let the cat out of the bag
13. like a cat on a hot tin roof
14. like cat and dog
15. look like something the cat brought in
16. not a cat in hell's chance
17. not have room to swing a cat
18. play cat and mouse
19. put the cat among the pigeons
20. rain cats and dogs
verbWord forms: cats, catting or catted21. (transitive) to flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails
22. (transitive) nautical to hoist (an anchor) to the cathead
23. (intransitive) a slang word for vomit