often attributive
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
: guy
some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him—
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
b
: a player or devotee of jazz
3
: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
6
7
: a malicious woman
especially
: one given to making catty remarks about other women
catted; catting
usually vulgar
: to search for a sexual mate
—often used with around
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
1
catalog
2
catalyst
1
clean-air turbulence
2
computerized axial tomography
Synonyms
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 WebHannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Then came competition and copy cats that took aim at MedMen’s clientele.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The virus, known as Type A H5N1, which typically circulates among poultry and wild birds, has spread to mammals, including cows, cats and at least two people in the U.S. in recent years.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
Bigger dogs often are friendlier to cats than smaller dogs, but the cats might not see it that way.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
If a person, dog or cat were to eat an infected cicada, they wouldn’t be affected by the amphetamines in it — the dose is too small.
—Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The people at the time may also have had a supernatural relationship with the cats.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
Reader responses Recent columns, most involving cats, have drawn quite a few reader comments and suggestions.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
It was generally perceived as an act of intense devotion: accepting a horrible night’s sleep, on a couch that reeked of cat pee, while facing the prospect of Ram Dass dying on your watch.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 17 June 2017
Cat Mountain Tr., 1400 block: Theft of property ($100-$750).
—Mitch Mitchell, star-telegram.com, 16 June 2017
Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish.
—Elisabeth Egan, chicagotribune.com, 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, 8 June 2017
Go to Cat Tuong in Kastanienallee for wow-factor vegan/vegetarian Vietnamese dishes—
—Alexandra Pereira, Condé Nast Traveler, 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, 13 Nov. 2016
Noun
The cat brushed against Ms. Suu Kyi, threading her legs in a nervous pattern, then slinked behind sandbags.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Then came competition and copy cats that took aim at MedMen’s clientele.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The virus, known as Type A H5N1, which typically circulates among poultry and wild birds, has spread to mammals, including cows, cats and at least two people in the U.S. in recent years.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
Bigger dogs often are friendlier to cats than smaller dogs, but the cats might not see it that way.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
If a person, dog or cat were to eat an infected cicada, they wouldn’t be affected by the amphetamines in it — the dose is too small.
—Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The people at the time may also have had a supernatural relationship with the cats.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
Reader responses Recent columns, most involving cats, have drawn quite a few reader comments and suggestions.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
It was generally perceived as an act of intense devotion: accepting a horrible night’s sleep, on a couch that reeked of cat pee, while facing the prospect of Ram Dass dying on your watch.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Verb
Cat knew how to draw out the best in his son athletically and emotionally.
—Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 17 June 2017
Cat Mountain Tr., 1400 block: Theft of property ($100-$750).
—Mitch Mitchell, star-telegram.com, 16 June 2017
Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish.
—Elisabeth Egan, chicagotribune.com, 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, 8 June 2017
Go to Cat Tuong in Kastanienallee for wow-factor vegan/vegetarian Vietnamese dishes—
—Alexandra Pereira, Condé Nast Traveler, 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, 13 Nov. 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cat
Cite this Entry
“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cat
1 of 2 nounoften attributive
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
2 of 2 abbreviation
computed axial tomography; computerized axial tomography
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