CAT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
cat
1 of 5noun
ˈkat often attributive Synonyms 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 : guy some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him Jack Kerouac b : a player or devotee of jazz 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 sense 1 7 : a malicious woman especially : one given to making catty remarks about other womencat
2 of 5verb
catted ; cattingintransitive verb
usually vulgar : to search for a sexual mate often used with aroundtransitive verb
: to bring (an anchor) up to the catheadcat
3 of 5abbreviation (1)
1 catalog 2 catalystCat
4 of 5trademark
ˈkat used for a Caterpillar tractorCAT
5 of 5abbreviation (2)
1 clean-air turbulence 2 computerized axial tomographySynonyms
Noun
feline house cat kitty moggy [ British ] moggie puss pussy pussycat See All Synonyms & Antonyms in ThesaurusExamples 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 Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun Having an outdoor dog or cat creates a definite warning for rabbits to stay away. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living , 21 May 2025 Some people even hike with their cats , but not all cats enjoy it. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune , 21 May 2025 Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats , Ariel and Caliban. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica , 21 May 2025 Now that the real estate cat is out of the bag, some Swifties are probably making plans to descend on Boca to get a rare sighting of the lovebirds. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald , 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for catWord History
EtymologyNoun
Middle English, from Old English catt , probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat
First Known UseNoun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler The first known use of cat was before the 12th century See more words from the same centuryPhrases Containing cat
alley cat Angora cat bell the cat big cat cat - a - mountain cat and mouse cat burglar cat distemper cat got your tongue cat - o' - nine - tails cat rig cat's cradle cat scratch disease cat's - eye cat's meow cat's - paw Cheshire cat civet cat dead - cat bounce false saber - tooth cat false saber - toothed cat fat cat feel / look like something the cat brought / dragged / drug in fight like cat and dog fisher cat foster dog / cat / puppy / kitten fraidy - cat house cat jungle cat leopard cat let the cat out of the bag like the cat that ate / got / swallowed the canary like the cat that got the cream longhaired cat look what the cat dragged in Manx cat Persian cat play (a game of) cat and mouse saber - tooth cat saber - toothed cat scaredy - cat Siamese cat spoonbill cat (the) cat has someone's tongue the cat's meow the cat's pajamas the cat's whiskers tiger cat See MoreRhymes for cat
at bat batt brat chat fat flat gat gnat hat kat mat See All Rhymes for catBrowse Nearby Words
caswellite cat CAT See all Nearby WordsArticles Related to cat
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'Camelopard', 'sea devil', and moreCite this Entry
Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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Kids Definition
cat
noun ˈkat 1 a : a small domestic meat-eating mammal kept by people as a pet or for catching rats and mice b : an animal (as the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah) that belongs to the same family as the domestic cat 2 : man entry 1 sense 1a , fellowMedical Definition
cat
1 of 2 noun ˈkat often 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 cheetahCAT
2 of 2 abbreviation computed axial tomography; computerized axial tomographyMore from Merriam-Webster on cat
Nglish: Translation of cat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat
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