cat

noun, often attributive

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\ ˈkat

Definition of cat

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : 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 (such as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)

2a : guy some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him— Jack Kerouac

b : a player or devotee of jazz

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

4a : catboat

b : catamaran

5 : cat-o'-nine-tails

6 : catfish sense 1

7 : a malicious woman especially : one given to making catty remarks about other women

cat

verb

catted; catting

Definition of cat (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead

cat

abbreviation (1)

Definition of cat (Entry 3 of 5)

1 catalog

2 catalyst

Cat

trademark

\ ˈkat

Definition of Cat (Entry 4 of 5)

—used for a Caterpillar tractor

CAT

abbreviation (2)

Definition of CAT (Entry 5 of 5)

1 clean-air turbulence

2 computerized axial tomography

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about cat

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Synonyms for cat

Synonyms: Noun

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

Examples of cat in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Participants have appeared naked or with a beer in hand, while an errant video filter turned a Texas attorney into a cat during a Zoom hearing. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, "Hot mic in courtroom captures insurance adjuster calling judge an idiot," 5 May 2021 Her other aspiration is to see Jimmy adopted by a person or family willing to care for a cat with special needs. — Suzanne Baker, chicagotribune.com, "Naperville cat walks on water treadmill for unusual rehab program," 30 Apr. 2021 Bumble Bee, a 2-year-old black domestic shorthair cat. — Brandi Addison, Dallas News, "Here’s how many shelter pets were adopted in Allen last year," 29 Apr. 2021 Graeff responded with an email belittling Hogan’s message and attached an image of a cat playing a violin. — oregonlive, "Portland-based attorney who shot at Beaverton colleague’s law office receives 5-year law suspension," 23 Apr. 2021 The book also features several nonhuman portraits: a seemingly unaccompanied dog, a stray cat looking straight into the camera, waterfowl, a puddle. — Willa Glickman, The New York Review of Books, "A Park Apart," 23 Apr. 2021 In 1965, Disney released a live-action movie that no one remembers called That Darn Cat!, about a cat who is also an informant for the FBI. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, "Watch the Teaser for That Damn Michael Che," 19 Apr. 2021 The distance is close enough that the drinking or bathing bird can usually escape a swooping hawk by hiding in the shrub, but far enough away that a cat cannot launch itself at a vulnerable bird with a single leap from the shrub. — Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, "How to meet the needs of birds this spring and summer in San Antonio," 16 Apr. 2021 Select a cat or dog from the map, which shows where they were picked up, or scan the list of pets available at the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Center. — Baidi Wang, sun-sentinel.com, "These rescued dogs and cats are up for adoption in Broward County | Interactive database," 15 Apr. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Cat knew how to draw out the best in his son athletically and emotionally. — Joseph Goodman, AL.com, "On Willie Mays, his father and the final childhood summer of the Say Hey Kid," 17 June 2017 Cat Mountain Tr., 1400 block: Theft of property ($100-$750). — Mitch Mitchell, star-telegram.com, "Police report: Suspect in Denton murder back in Texas," 16 June 2017 Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish. — Elisabeth Egan, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award finalist: "Water like air" by Rebecca Wurtz," 10 June 2017 Q. How worried should cat owners be about the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, especially with babies in the house? — Karen Weintraub, New York Times, "How Worried Should Cat Owners Be About Toxoplasmosis?," 8 June 2017 Go to Cat Tuong in Kastanienallee for wow-factor vegan/vegetarian Vietnamese dishes— — Alexandra Pereira, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Enjoy Berlin's Nightlife Like a Local," 8 May 2017 Today, the government is trying hard to eliminate cats from the landscape and is even involved in the invention of new cat poisons and gory things, which are upsetting to cat lovers. — Martin Mejia, National Geographic, "How Cats Clawed Their Way Into Our Hearts," 13 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.