cat

noun, often attributive

\ 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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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 This very handsome 3-year-old orange tabby with beautiful markings and golden eyes is still very shy but is slowly coming around and getting to know the other cats in his room. — azcentral, "Doberman and other pets up for adoption in Phoenix-area shelters this week," 14 Feb. 2020 Last month, a landowner who had lost several animals to a mountain lion received a state permit to kill the cat. — Arlene Martinez, USA TODAY, "In California: Mountain lions prowl for protected status; hemp goes big," 14 Feb. 2020 But, as these stories usually go, the cat grew on Raymond. — oregonlive, "Portland man leaves China – and his kitten – in a hurry over fears of coronavirus," 13 Feb. 2020 Crenshaw was a nice dog, affectionate to people, welcoming of other animals, except for Buster, the stray cat who lives with me part time now. — Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, "Gene Weingarten: The tail of a ruff few days," 13 Feb. 2020 Rouge your knees, grab someone who is the cat’s meow and maybe get zozzled at this night of retro romance. — Shannon Sutlief, Dallas News, "Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Dallas-Fort Worth with wine, chocolate and romantic views," 6 Feb. 2020 Sebastian threatened to kill the man and the cat before hitting him, according to police. — Adam Ferrise, cleveland, "70-year-old Cleveland veteran killed man who took him in off the streets, family says," 27 Jan. 2020 Only one can be chosen, however, by the ancient cat known as Old Deuteronomy. — Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, "Want to make fun of ‘Cats’? It’s OK to hiss at Sidewalk Cinema," 24 Jan. 2020 His eyes flitted toward the sounds of the History Channel in the background, while Ginger, his grandma’s Chihuahua, and Bella, the Parkers’ cat, protectively encircled him. — BostonGlobe.com, "Is the FDA ready for the next E. coli outbreak?," 23 Jan. 2020 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.