Definition of case
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: a set of circumstances or conditions
is the statement true in all three cases
b(1)
: a situation requiring investigation or action (as by the police)
Her disappearance is a case for the police.
(2)
: the object of investigation or consideration
The child's case was turned over to state authorities.
3
[Middle English cas, from Anglo-French, from Latin casus, translation of Greek ptōsis, literally, fall]
a
: an inflectional form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective indicating its grammatical relation to other words
the possessive case
b
: such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not
4
: what actually exists or happens : fact
thought he had failed, but that wasn't the case
5a
: a suit or action in law or equity
a criminal case a civil case
b(1)
: the evidence supporting a conclusion or judgment
b
: an instance that directs attention to a situation or exhibits it in action : example
c
: a peculiar person : character
The gangsters were hard cases.
7
: oneself considered as an object of harassment or criticism
get off my case
in any case
in case
in case of
: without regard to or in spite of other considerations : whatever else is done or is the case
war is inevitable in any case in any case the report will be made public next month
: as a precaution
took an umbrella, just in case
: in the event of
in case of trouble, yell
case
noun (2)Definition of case (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: a box or receptacle for holding something
a display case in a museum
b
: a box together with its contents
a case of beer
2a
: an outer covering or housing
a pastry case
b
: a tube into which the components of a round of ammunition are loaded
3
: a divided tray for holding printing type
4
: the frame of a door or window : casing
case
verb
cased; casing
Definition of case (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: to enclose in or cover with or as if with a case : encase
cased his coin collection
2
: to line (something, such as a well) with supporting material (such as metal pipe)
3
: to inspect or study especially with intent to rob
cased the bank before the robbery
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share case
Time Traveler for case
The first known use of case was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century