catch a glimpse of someone or something Definition

catch
verb caught (past tense, past participle), catching (present participle)

1. To stop (a moving object) and hold it.
2. To manage to get hold of or trap, especially after a hunt or chase.

Thesaurus: seize, take, apprehend, snatch, snag, grab, snare, entrap, nab, net; Antonym: miss, free, unleash.
3. To be in time to get, reach, see, etc something.

Example: catch the last post
4. To overtake or draw level with someone or something.
5. To discover someone or something in time to prevent or to encourage the development of something.

Example: The disease can be cured if caught early
6. To surprise someone doing something wrong or embarrassing.

Example: I caught them in a passionate clinch in the kitchen
7. To trick or trap.
8. To become infected with (a disease, etc).

Thesaurus: contract, incur, get, acquire, develop, come down with, succumb to; Antonym: ward off, get over.
tr & intr
9. To become or cause to become accidentally attached or held.

Example: My dress caught on a nail
10. To hit.

Example: I caught him square on the chin
11. To manage to hear, see or understand something.

Example: I didn't quite catch your third point
Thesaurus: see, perceive, grasp, understand, follow, apprehend.
12. To attract (attention, etc).

Example: catch her eye
intr
13. To start burning.

Example: The fire caught within seconds and spread to the library
14. To succeed in recording (a subtle quality, etc).

Example: The artist caught her expression perfectly
15. cricket.
To put (a batsman) out by gathering the ball he has struck before it touches the ground.

noun catches

1. An act of catching.
2. A small device for keeping a lid, door, etc closed.
3. Something caught.
4. The total amount of eg fish caught.
5. A hidden problem or disadvantage; a snag; some unsuspected trick in a question, etc.

Thesaurus: proviso, fine print, condition, caveat, stipulation; trap, gimmick, trick.
6. Someone or something that it would be advantageous to get hold of, eg a certain person as a husband or wife.
7. A slight breaking sound in one's voice, caused by emotion.
8. A children's game of throwing and catching a ball.
9. music.
A humorous round sung by two or three people.

Derivative: catchable
adj

Idiom: be caught short

See under short.

Idiom: be caught up in something (get caught up in something)

To be or get involved in it, especially unintentionally.

Idiom: catch fire

To start burning.

Idiom: catch hold of something

To grasp or grab it.

Idiom: catch it

colloq
To be scolded, punished, etc.

Idiom: catch sight of someone or something (catch a glimpse of someone or something)

To see them only for a brief moment.

Etymology: 13c: from French cachier, from Latin captiare to try to catch, from capere to seize.

Phrasal Verb: catch at something

To try to catch or hold it; to hold on to it briefly.

Phrasal Verb: catch on

To become popular.To understand it.

Phrasal Verb: catch someone out

To trick them into making a mistake.To discover them or take them unawares in embarrassing circumstances.

Phrasal Verb: catch up

To draw level with someone ahead.To bring oneself up to date with one's work, the latest news, etc.To immerse or occupy.
Example: She was completely caught up in her studies

Phrasal Verb: catch something up

To pick it up or grab it hastily.