CAT Definition

CAT
abbreviation

1. College of Advanced Technology.
2. Computer-assisted training or computer-aided training.
3. A CAT scanner.

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cat¹
noun

1. Any of a wide range of carnivorous mammals, including large cats such as the lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard and cheetah, as well as the domestic cat.
2. The domestic cat, which has many different breeds. See also feline.

Thesaurus: feline, tomcat, kitten, kitty, pussycat.
3. derog, colloq
Someone, especially a woman, with a spiteful tongue.
4. slang
A person.
5. A cat-o'-nine-tails.

Idiom: the cat's whiskers (the cat's pyjamas)

colloq
The best or greatest thing.
Example: Darren thinks he's the cat's whiskers

Idiom: fight like cat and dog

colloq
To quarrel ferociously.

Idiom: let the cat out of the bag

colloq
To give away a secret unintentionally.
Thesaurus: tell a secret, spill the beans (slang).

Idiom: like a cat on a hot tin roof (like a cat on hot bricks)

colloq
Very nervous or uneasy.

Idiom: like something the cat brought in (like something the cat dragged in)

colloq
Messy, dirty, untidy or bedraggled in appearance.

Idiom: no room to swing a cat

Having very little space; cramped.

Idiom: not have a cat in hell's chance

colloq
To have absolutely no chance.

Idiom: play cat and mouse with someone

To tease them cruelly by not letting them know exactly what one intends to do with them.

Idiom: put the cat among the pigeons (set the cat among the pigeons)

To do something, often suddenly, that is generally upsetting or disturbing.

Idiom: rain cats and dogs

colloq
To rain very heavily, usually for a long time.

Idiom: see which way the cat jumps

colloq
To wait to see how a situation develops before taking action.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon catte, from Latin cattus.

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cat²
noun

1. colloq
Short for catalytic converter.

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cat-o'-nine-tails
cat
noun

cat-o'-nine-tails
1. historical
A whip with nine knotted rope lashes, used as an instrument of punishment in the navy.