Main Entry:

²chase

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

chased; chas·ing

Etymology:

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

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to follow rapidly : pursue b: hunt c: to follow regularly or persistently with the intention of attracting or alluring2obsolete : harass3: 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 rally6: to swing at (a baseball pitched out of the strike zone)intransitive verb1: to chase an animal, person, or thing <chase after material possessions>2: rush, hasten <chased all over town looking for a place to stay>

synonyms 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>.