cat

play

noun, often attributive \ ˈkat \

Definition of cat

1 a :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)

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

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

4 a :catboat

b :catamaran

5 :cat-o'-nine-tails

6 :catfish 1

7 a :a player or devotee of jazz

b :guy

some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him
—Jack Kerouac

See cat defined for English-language learners

See cat defined for kids

Examples of cat in a Sentence

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 of cat from the Web

And just as an aside, shoutout the INCREDIBLE hot pink sequin cat patch Miu Miu jumpsuit Selena's sporting here: Watch the entire Q&A on YouTube below:

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Selena Gomez Shared Why She Left Her Old Band "The Scene"," 11 July 2017
All proceeds will be split between The Idaho Foodbank, a hunger relief organization, and Fuzzy Pawz Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to finding loving homes for homeless dogs and cats in Idaho and Utah.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Dirty dogs wanted for fundraiser dog wash," 7 July 2017
The workshop is outside and will demonstrate the tricks of baiting and setting humane traps, provide a list of low-cost clinics and instruction on how to transport cats safely.

— Daily Southtown, "Community news," 5 July 2017
An animal control officer got into the drain and was able to reach the cat.

— Washington Post, "Loudoun County Animal Watch," 5 July 2017
Two days after he was abandoned, some Iranians who feed stray cats spotted him and scooped him up.

— hailey branson-potts, latimes.com, "'A travel ban for a pug? I don't think so!' How an abused puppy made the trip from Iran to America," 5 July 2017
Wendy is little shy with new people at first, but loves all other dogs and will leave a cat alone.

— kansascity, "Parkville Animal Shelter presents pets of the week," 30 June 2017
Line your eyes with black liquid liner in the shape of a cat-eye.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "11 Halloween Looks You Can Create With Makeup You Already Have," 30 June 2017
One homeowner got the shock of her life on a recent lazy afternoon while watching the rain fall with her cat.

— katina beniaris, Country Living, "This Insane Video Shows What It's Really Like to Be Struck By Lightning," 30 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of cat

Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat

cat Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

mouser; kit, kitten; alley cat, tabby; gib, tomcat

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

cat

verb

Definition of cat

catted; catting

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

:to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead

Recent Examples of cat from the Web

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

cat

abbreviation

Definition of cat

1 catalog

2 catalyst

Cat

play

trademark \ ˈkat \

Definition of Cat

—used for a Caterpillar tractor

CAT

abbreviation

Definition of CAT

1 clean-air turbulence

2 computerized axial tomography

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

CAT Defined for Kids

cat

play

noun \ ˈkat \

Definition of cat for Students

1 :a common furry meat-eating animal kept as a pet or for catching mice and rats

2 :any of a family of mammals (as the lion, tiger, and leopard) to which the domestic cat belongs

Medical Dictionary

cat

play

noun, often attributive \ ˈkat \

medical Definition of cat

1 :a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated and kept as a pet or for catching rats and mice

2 :any of a family (Felidae) of mammals including the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah

CAT

abbreviation

medical Definition of CAT

computed axial tomography; computerized axial tomography

Learn More about cat

See words that rhyme with cat Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cat Spanish Central: Translation of cat Nglish: Translation of cat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cat for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat

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Origin and Etymology of cat

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Synonyms

Related Words

Other Mammals Terms

cat

Definition of cat

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cat

Definition of cat

Cat

Definition of Cat

CAT

Definition of CAT

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CAT Defined for Kids

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Definition of cat for Students

Medical Dictionary

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medical Definition of cat

CAT

medical Definition of CAT

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