chase

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>.