catcat /kæt/ ●●● S1 W3 noun [countable] 1
ANIMAL a)a small furry animal with four legs that is often kept as a pet or used for catching mice: a black cat a tom cat (=male cat) an old alley cat (=cat without a home) a house cat (=pet that usually stays in the house) playing with a ball of string b) (also big cat) a large animal such as a lion or tiger2let the cat out of the bag to tell a secret, especially without intending to3cat and mouse (also a game of cat and mouse) a situation in which you allow someone to escape, and then catch him or her again: The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse in order to trap him.4look like something the cat dragged in to look very sick, tired, or messy5like a cat on a hot tin roof so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing6when the cat’s away (the mice will play) used to say that people will not behave well when the person who has authority over them is not there7Cat got your tongue? spoken used to ask someone, especially a child, why he or she is not talking8look like the cat that ate the canary to show too much satisfaction with your own intelligence or success9PERSON old-fashioned slang a person: Jefferson is one cool cat.[Origin: Old English catt] → see also catty, fat cat at fat1 (5), it’s raining cats and dogs at rain2 (4), there’s not enough room to swing a cat at room1 (4)
ANIMAL a)a small furry animal with four legs that is often kept as a pet or used for catching mice: a black cat a tom cat (=male cat) an old alley cat (=cat without a home) a house cat (=pet that usually stays in the house) playing with a ball of string b) (also big cat) a large animal such as a lion or tiger2let the cat out of the bag to tell a secret, especially without intending to3cat and mouse (also a game of cat and mouse) a situation in which you allow someone to escape, and then catch him or her again: The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse in order to trap him.4look like something the cat dragged in to look very sick, tired, or messy5like a cat on a hot tin roof so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing6when the cat’s away (the mice will play) used to say that people will not behave well when the person who has authority over them is not there7Cat got your tongue? spoken used to ask someone, especially a child, why he or she is not talking8look like the cat that ate the canary to show too much satisfaction with your own intelligence or success9PERSON old-fashioned slang a person: Jefferson is one cool cat.[Origin: Old English catt] → see also catty, fat cat at fat1 (5), it’s raining cats and dogs at rain2 (4), there’s not enough room to swing a cat at room1 (4)