cat

¹cat

noun, often attributive \ˈkat\

Definition of CAT

1

a : a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice

b : any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)

2

: a malicious woman

3

: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship

4

a : catboat

b : catamaran

5

: cat-o'-nine-tails

6

: catfish

7

a : a player or devotee of jazz

b : guy

Examples of CAT

1. I have two dogs and a cat.
2. <the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents>

Origin of CAT

Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CAT

Synonyms

feline, house cat, kitty, moggy (also moggie) [British], puss, pussy, pussycat

Related Words

mouser; kit, kitten; alley cat, tabby; gib, tomcat

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with CAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, that, vat

²cat

verb

cat·tedcat·ting

Definition of CAT

intransitive verb

: to search for a sexual mate —often used with around

transitive verb

: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead

First Known Use of CAT

1681

³cat

abbreviation

Definition of CAT

1

catalog

2

catalyst

Cat

trademark \ˈkat\

Definition of CAT

—used for a Caterpillar tractor

Rhymes with CAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, that, vat

CAT

abbreviation

Definition of CAT

1

clean-air turbulence

2

computerized axial tomography

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

cat

noun , often attrib \ˈkat\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CAT

1

: a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated and kept as a pet or for catching rats and mice

2

: any of a family (Felidae) of mammals including the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah

cat

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any member of the family Felidae, the most highly specialized group of mammalian carnivores. Modern-type cats appeared in the fossil record about 10 million years ago. Cats in the genus Panthera (leopard, jaguar, tiger, and lion) roar but cannot purr, and their pupils are round. Other cats, including the snow leopard and cougar, can purr but do not roar; the pupil is usually vertical. Cats have sharp, retractable (except in the cheetah) claws, and their teeth are adapted for stabbing, anchoring, and cutting. They almost always land on their feet when they fall from a height. Most species are nocturnal, and their eyes are adapted for seeing in low light. Cats are known for their habit of grooming themselves with their rasplike tongue. Small cats have been domesticated for some 3,500 years (see domestic cat). Other cat species include the bobcat, caracal, lynx, ocelot, serval, and wildcat.

Variants of CAT

cat or feline