chase

¹chase

noun \ˈchās\

Definition of CHASE

1

a : the hunting of wild animals —used with the

b : the act of chasing : pursuit

c : an earnest or frenzied seeking after something desired

2

: something pursued : quarry

3

: a tract of unenclosed land used as a game preserve

4

: steeplechase 1

5

: a sequence (as in a movie) in which the characters pursue one another

Origin of CHASE

Middle English, from Anglo-French chace, from chacer

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with CHASE

ace, base, bass, brace, case, dace, face, grace, lace, mace, Mace, Naas, pace, place, plaice, prase, race, res, space, Thrace, trace, vase, Wace

²chase

verb

chasedchas·ing

Definition of CHASE

transitive verb

1

a : to follow rapidly : pursue

b : hunt

c : to follow regularly or persistently with the intention of attracting or alluring

2

obsolete : harass

3

: to seek out —often used with down <detectives chasing down clues>

4

: to cause to depart or flee : drive <chase the dog out of the garden>

5

: to cause the removal of (a baseball pitcher) by a batting rally

6

: to swing at (a baseball pitched out of the strike zone)

intransitive verb

1

: to chase an animal, person, or thing <chase after material possessions>

2

: rush, hasten <chased all over town looking for a place to stay>

Origin of CHASE

Middle English, from Anglo-French chacer, from Vulgar Latin *captiare — more at catch

First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of CHASE

chase, pursue, follow, trail mean to go after or on the track of something or someone. chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running <a dog chasing a cat>. pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain <pursued the criminal through narrow streets>. follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake <friends followed me home in their car>. trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object <trail deer> <trailed a suspect across the country>.

³chase

transitive verb

chasedchas·ing

Definition of CHASE

1

a : to ornament (metal) by indenting with a hammer and tools without a cutting edge

b : to make by such indentation

c : to set with gems

2

a : groove, indent

b : to cut (a thread) with a chaser

Origin of CHASE

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French enchaser to set

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Jewelry Terms

bijou, brilliant, facet, lapidary, paste

⁴chase

noun

Definition of CHASE

1

: groove, furrow

2

: the bore of a cannon

3

a : trench

b : a channel (as in a wall) for something to lie in or pass through

Origin of CHASE

French chas eye of a needle, from Late Latin capsus enclosed space, alteration of Latin capsa box — more at case

First Known Use: 1611

⁵chase

noun

Definition of CHASE

: a rectangular steel or iron frame in which letterpress matter is locked (as for printing)

Origin of CHASE

probably from French châsse frame, reliquary, from Middle French chasse, from Latin capsa

First Known Use: 1612

Chase

biographical name \ˈchās\

Definition of CHASE

Mary Ellen 1887–1973 Am. educ. & author

Chase

biographical name

Definition of CHASE

Sal*mon \ˈsa-mən, ˈsal-\ Portland 1808–1873 Am. statesman; chief justice United States Supreme Court (1864–73)