Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter C

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter C - Page 27

Catalyse (n. pl. ) of Catalysis.

Catalysis (n.) Dissolution; degeneration; decay.

Catalysis (n.) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch.

Catalysis (n.) The catalytic force.

Catalytic (a.) Relating to, or causing, catalysis.

Catalytic (n.) An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.

Catamaran (n.) 筏；遊艇；好吵架的人；潑婦；雙體船 A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

Catamaran (n.) Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.

Catamaran (n.) A kind of fire raft or torpedo bat.

The incendiary rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne,1804, were called catamarans. -- Knight.

Catamaran (n.) 潑婦，悍婦 A quarrelsome woman; a scold. [Colloq.]

Catamaran (n.) A sailboat with two parallel hulls held together by single deck.

Catamaran (n.) [ C ] 雙體船 A sailing boat that has two parallel hulls (= floating parts) held together by a single deck (= flat surface).

Catamenia (n. pl.) 月經 The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.

Catamenial (a.) 月經的 Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.

Catamite (n.) A boy kept for unnatural purposes.

Catamount (n.) The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the lynx.

Catanadromous (a.) Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous.

Catapasm (n.) A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc.

Catapeltic (a.) Of or pertaining to a catapult.

Catapetalous (a.) Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

Cataphonic (a.) Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

Cataphonics (n.) That branch of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds; catacoustics.

Cataphract (n.) Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.

Cataphract (n.) A horseman covered with a cataphract.

Cataphract (n.) The armor or plate covering some fishes.

Cataphracted (a.) Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

Cataphractic (a.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.

Cataphysical (a.) Unnatural; contrary to nature.

Cataplasm (n.) A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice.

Catapuce (n.) Spurge.

Catapult (n.) (Mil. Antiq.) [C] （古代的）石弩；投石機；【英】彈弓 An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

Catapult (n.) A forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc.

Catapult (n.) A plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones [syn: slingshot, sling, catapult].

Catapult (n.) A device that launches aircraft from a warship [syn: catapult, launcher].

Catapult (n.) An engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles [syn: catapult, arbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucket].

Catapult (v.) (v. t.) 用彈射器發射；【英】用彈弓射 (v. i.) 被用彈射器彈射；快速移動；躍 Shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult; "the enemy catapulted rocks towards the fort".

Catapult (v.) Hurl as if with a sling [syn: sling, catapult].

Cataract (n.) [C] 大瀑布；激流；豪雨；洪水 [P1]；【醫】白內障 A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

Cataract (n.) (Surg.) An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.

Cataract (n.) (Mach.) A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.

Cataract (n.) An eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye.

Cataract (n.) A large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice.

Cataract (n.) (Ophthalmology ) An abnormality of the eye, characterized by opacity of the lens.

Cataract (n.) (Ophthalmology ) The opaque area.

Cataract (n.) (Ophthalmology ) An eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye.

Cataract (n.) (Pathology) Opacity of the lens or capsule of the eye, causing impairment of vision or blindness. Cataractal, Cataractous, (a.) Cataracted, (a.).

Cataractous (a.) Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

Catarrh (n.) An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as, catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Catarrhal (a.) Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

Catarrhine (n.) One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

Catarrhous (a.) Catarrhal.

Catastaltic (a.) Checking evacuations through astringent or styptic qualities.

Catastasis (n.) (Rhet.) （古典悲劇中）大禍臨發生之前之緊張情節；戲劇之高潮 That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

Catastasis (n.) (Med.) The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.

Catasterism (n.) A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars.

The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. -- Whewell.

Catastrophe (n.) [C] 大災，大禍，大災難；大敗，慘敗 An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune.

The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. -- Bp. Burnet.

The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. -- Woodward.

Catastrophe (n.) The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.

Catastrophe (n.) (Geol.) A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes.

Catastrophe (n.) An event resulting in great loss and misfortune; "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster" [syn: {calamity}, {catastrophe}, {disaster}, {tragedy}, {cataclysm}].

Catastrophe (n.) A state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster" [syn: {catastrophe}, {disaster}].

Catastrophe (n.) A sudden violent change in the earth's surface [syn: {catastrophe}, {cataclysm}].

Catastrophic (a.) 災難的；激變的；悲慘的；慘敗的 Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. -- B. Powell.

Catastrophic (a.) Extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin; "a catastrophic depression"; "catastrophic illness"; "a ruinous course of action" [syn: {catastrophic}, {ruinous}].

Catastrophic (a.) Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.

Catastrophic (a.) Extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful.

Catastrophic (a.) Involving a sudden and large-scale alteration in state.

Catastrophic (a.) Relating to geological catastrophism.

Catastrophism (n.) 劫數難逃論；災變說 (Geol.) The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of {uniformism}.

Catastrophist (n.) (Geol.) 災害學家；信奉災變說的人；相信大難必臨的人 One who holds the theory or catastrophism.

Compare: Fox

Fox (n.; pl. Foxes.) (Zool.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes, family Canid[ae], of many species. The European fox ({V. vulgaris or V. vulpes), the American red fox ({V. fulvus), the American gray fox ({V. Virginianus}), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox ({V. lagopus) are well-known species.

Note: The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of the same species, of less value. The common foxes of Europe and America are very similar; both are celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild birds, poultry, and various small animals.

Subtle as the fox for prey. -- Shak.

Fox (n.) (Zool.) The European dragonet.

Fox (n.) (Zool.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark.

Fox (n.) A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]

We call a crafty and cruel man a fox. -- Beattie.

Fox (n.) (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats.

Fox (n.) A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]
Thou diest on point of fox. -- Shak.

Fox (n.) pl. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies.

Fox and geese. A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others as they run one goal to another.

Fox and geese. A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle of the board, endeavors to break through the line of the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox.

Fox bat (Zool.), A large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus, of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East Indies, esp. P. medius of India. Some of the species are more than four feet across the outspread wings. See Fruit bat.

Fox bolt, A bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge.

Fox brush (Zool.), The tail of a fox.

Fox evil, A disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy.

Fox grape (Bot.), The name of two species of American grapes. The northern fox grape ({Vitis Labrusca) is the origin of the varieties called Isabella, Concord, Hartford, etc., and the southern fox grape ({Vitis vulpina) has produced the Scuppernong, and probably the Catawba.

Fox hunter. One who pursues foxes with hounds.

Fox hunter. A horse ridden in a fox chase.

Fox shark (Zool.), The thrasher shark. See Thrasher shark, under Thrasher.

Fox sleep, Pretended sleep.

Fox sparrow (Zool.), A large American sparrow ({Passerella iliaca); -- so called on account of its reddish color.

Fox squirrel (Zool.), A large North American squirrel ({Sciurus niger, or S. cinereus). In the Southern States the black variety prevails; farther north the fulvous and gray variety, called the cat squirrel, is more common.

Fox terrier (Zool.), One of a peculiar breed of terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired varieties.

Fox trot, A pace like that which is adopted for a few steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot, or a trot into a walk.

Fox wedge (Mach. & Carpentry), A wedge for expanding the split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece, to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges is called foxtail wedging.

Fox wolf (Zool.), One of several South American wild dogs, belonging to the genus Canis. They have long, bushy tails like a fox.

Catawba (n.) A well known light red variety of American grape.

Catawba (n.) A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.

Catawbas (n. pl.) An Appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

Catawba (n.) 1: A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Carolinas.

Catawba (n.) Slipskin grape; a reddish American table grape.

Catawba (n.) The Siouan language spoken by the Catawba.

Catawba, NC -- U.S. town in North Carolina

Population (2000): 698

Housing Units (2000): 285

Land area (2000): 2.286211 sq. miles (5.921259 sq. km)

Water area (2000): 0.056293 sq. miles (0.145799 sq. km)

Total area (2000): 2.342504 sq. miles (6.067058 sq. km)

FIPS code: 10980

Located within: North Carolina (NC), FIPS 37

Location: 35.709853 N, 81.075734 W

ZIP Codes (1990): 28609

Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Headwords:

Catawba, NC

Catawba

Catawba, OH -- U.S. village in Ohio

Population (2000): 312

Housing Units (2000): 112

Land area (2000): 0.255479 sq. miles (0.661688 sq. km)

Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)

Total area (2000): 0.255479 sq. miles (0.661688 sq. km)

FIPS code: 12560

Located within: Ohio (OH), FIPS 39

Location: 39.999900 N, 83.622185 W

ZIP Codes (1990):

Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Headwords:

Catawba, OH

Catawba

Catawba, WI -- U.S. village in Wisconsin

Population (2000): 149

Housing Units (2000): 79

Land area (2000): 4.455550 sq. miles (11.539820 sq. km)

Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)

Total area (2000): 4.455550 sq. miles (11.539820 sq. km)

FIPS code: 13175

Located within: Wisconsin (WI), FIPS 55

Location: 45.535969 N, 90.530445 W

ZIP Codes (1990): 54515

Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Headwords:

Catawba, WI

Catawba

Catbird (n.) An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

Catboat (n.) A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a gaff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

Catcall (n.) A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.

Catch (v. i.) To attain possession. [Obs.]

Have is have, however men do catch. -- Shak.

Catch (v. i.) To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.

Catch (v. i.) To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.

Catch (v. i.) To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.

Does the sedition catch from man to man? -- Addison.

To catch at, To attempt to seize; to be eager to get or use. "[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state." -- Addison.

To catch up with, To come up with; to overtake.

Caught (imp. & p. p.) of Catch.

Catched () of Catch.

Catching (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Catch.

Catch (v. t.) To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.

Catch (v. t.) To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued . . . and caught him." -- Judg. i. 6.

Catch (v. t.) To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.

Catch (v. t.) Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". -- Mark xii. 13.

Catch (v. t.) To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." -- Tennyson.

Catch (v. t.) To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.

Catch (v. t.) To engage and attach; to please; to charm.

The soothing arts that catch the fair. -- Dryden.

Catch (v. t.) To get possession of; to attain.

Torment myself to catch the English throne. -- Shak.

Catch (v. t.) To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.

Catch (v. t.) To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.

Catch (v. t.) To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.

To catch fire, To become inflamed or ignited.

To catch it, To get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. [Colloq.]

To catch one's eye, To interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." -- Dickens.

To catch up, To snatch; to take up suddenly.

Catch (n.) Act of seizing; a grasp. -- Sir P. Sidney.

Catch (n.) That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

Catch (n.) The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] -- Addison.

The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. -- T. Fuller.

Catch (n.) That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.

Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. -- Shak.

Catch (n.) Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.] -- Marryat.

Catch (n.) pl. Passing opportunities seized; snatches.

It has been writ by catches with many intervals. -- Locke.

Catch (n.) A slight remembrance; a trace.

We retain a catch of those pretty stories. -- Glanvill.

Catch (n.) (Mus.) A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

Catch (n.) A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident; "it sounds good but what's the catch?" [syn: catch, gimmick].

Catch (n.) The quantity that was caught; "the catch was only 10 fish" [syn: catch, haul].

Catch (n.) A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect [syn: catch, match].

Catch (n.) Anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching); "he shared his catch with the others."

Catch (n.) A break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion).

Catch (n.) A restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open" [syn: catch, stop].

Catch (n.) A fastener that fastens or locks a door or window.

Catch (n.) A cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth; "he played catch with his son in the backyard."

Catch (n.) The act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion" [syn: catch, grab, snatch, snap].

Catch (n.) The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar" [syn: apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody]. [Colloq.] -- Marryat.