cat

Less common meanings

4. 4
   medical scannounabbreviation

   Abbreviation of computed axial tomography, a medical scan that makes detailed pictures of the inside of the body.

   The doctor ordered a CAT scan after the accident.

   Her CAT scan revealed a small fracture near the spine.

   UsageWritten in capitals: a CAT scan, also called a CT scan.

   Note
5. 5
   dudenoundatedfigurativelycountable

   A person, especially a man, spoken of casually as a guy or fellow.

   That cat in the blue suit can really dance.

   A few cats from work came by to watch the game.

   UsageOften some cat (a man you do not know) or a cool cat.

   Similarguy, dude, fellow, chap, bloke

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   An animal that is not really in the cat family but looks a bit like a house cat.

   A civet cat is not a true feline despite its name.

   Ranchers sometimes spot a ring-tailed cat near the barn.

   UsageMostly part of a name, like civet cat.

7. 7
   meatnoununcountable

   The meat of a cat, eaten as food.

   During the long siege, hungry families were reduced to eating cat.

   In some wartime markets, cat was sold when other meat ran out.

   UsageFor the meat, say eat cat, like eat chicken.

   Note
8. 8
   tracked vehiclenouncountable

   A big machine or vehicle that moves on tracks instead of wheels, such as a bulldozer or snowcat.

   The crew drove a tracked cat up the slope to groom the snow.

   Two cats crawled across the muddy site on their metal tracks.

9. 9
   exhaust partnounabbreviation

   Abbreviation of catalytic converter, a car part that cleans harmful gases from the engine's exhaust.

   Thieves stole the cat from under his parked truck.

   A failing cat can make the engine warning light come on.

   Note
10. 10
    punishment whipnouncountableabbreviationellipsis

    Short form of cat-o'-nine-tails. It means a whip with many cords, once used to punish sailors.

    The bosun fetched the cat and the crew fell silent on deck.

    The sailor got ten lashes with the cat for sleeping on watch.

    Note
11. 11
    two-hulled boatnounabbreviation

    Abbreviation of catamaran, a boat with two hulls joined side by side.

    They sailed the cat across the bay in record time.

    The racing cat skimmed over the waves.

    Note
12. 12
    fishnounabbreviation

    Short for catfish. Used mainly by people who fish.

    Grandpa caught a big cat on chicken liver last night.

    We pulled a ten-pound cat out of the muddy pond behind the farm.

    UsageOften fish for cat, with no a.

    Note
13. 13
    jazz musiciannounslangfigurativelycountable

    A jazz musician, or someone who loves jazz music.

    That cat can really play the saxophone.

    The club was full of cats who knew every Coltrane solo.

    UsageOften a jazz cat.

    Similarhepcat

    Note
14. 14
    mean womannounderogatoryoffensivefigurativelycountable or uncountable

    A mean or spiteful person, especially a woman.

    Don't be such a cat about her new promotion.

    The two of them were real cats, sniping at each other all night.

    UsageThis is an unkind name, mostly for women. People more often say catty: a catty remark.

    Similarbitch

    Note
15. 15
    Unix programnoun

    A Unix command that reads files and sends their contents to the screen, another program, or a file.

    Run cat to print the file's contents to the terminal.

    She used cat to join several logs into one file.

    Note
16. 16
    Unix programverbtransitive

    To use the 'cat' command on one or more computer files.

    Just cat the log file to see the latest entries.

    She catted the three config files into one before editing.

    UsageYou cat a file. Past form: catted.

17. 17
    gossipverbintransitive

    To gossip about others in a mean, unkind way.

    Men from young to middleaged, with matt faces, vivacious and brightly dressed, catted together in gay groups.

    1932, Hugh Brooke, Man Made Angry

    They smiled, touched, rolled their eyes and raised their eyebrows, as they relived the audition and catted about some of their competition.

    1996, Alistair Boyle, The Unlucky Seven

    Similargossip

    Note
18. 18
    whip someoneverbtransitive

    To beat someone with a whip called a cat-o'-nine-tails.

    The captain ordered the bosun to cat the mutineer at dawn.

    They catted the deserter in front of the assembled crew.

    Similarflog, whip, lash, scourge

    Note
19. 19
    drugnounslanguncountable

    A street name for the illegal drug methcathinone.

    Dealers were selling cat on the corner near the old factory.

    He got hooked on cat after losing his job.

    Note
20. 20
    vagina (rude)nounslangvulgarcountable or uncountable

    A rude slang word for a woman's private parts.

    He told his friends he was going out to get some cat tonight.

    She told him to keep his hands off her cat unless she asked.

    Similarpussy

    Note
21. 21
    terribleadjectivecolloquialIreland

    So bad that it is a complete disaster.

    The weather was absolutely cat all weekend.

    Honestly, the weather on our trip was cat the whole week.

    UsageUse it after was or is: the weather was cat.

    Similarawful, terrible, disastrous, rubbish

    Oppositegreat

22. 22
    game sticknounarchaiccountable

    A short, pointed piece of wood that players hit in the game of tipcat.

    Note
23. 23
    noun

    Abbreviation of catapult, a device that launches something into the air with great force.
24. 24
    nounslangUS

    A worker who travels from place to place looking for jobs.
25. 25
    verb

    To lift a ship's anchor by its ring so it hangs at a beam near the bow.
26. 26
    noun

    A strong set of ropes and pulleys used to lift a ship's anchor up to the bow.
27. 27
    noun

    A shelter on wheels, once used to protect attacking soldiers as they neared a castle wall.

    From behind the narrow slits in the walls of Castellar, crossbowmen and archers took aim at the juddering cat as it came closer.

    2000, Stephen O'Shea, The Perfect HeresyHere, cat means a shelter on wheels protecting attackers as they neared the walls.
28. 28
    noun

    A stand with six feet, built so that three always rest on the ground however you place it.
29. 29
    nounobsolete

    A person who has sex with people for money.

    "Tell me. Willie said there was a cat in love with you. That isn't true, is it?" "Yes. It's true," Hudson corrects her, letting her think that by "cat" he means prostitute.

    1999, Carl P. Eby, Hemingway’s Fetishism: Psychoanalysis and the Mirror of Manhood
30. 30
    nounarchaic

    An old game where you hit a ball thrown up from a wooden trap, or that trap.
31. 31
    nounarchaic

    An old kind of strong ship for carrying goods.
32. 32
    verbarchaic

    To be sick and bring food up from your stomach.

    ‘He's going to cat, Maxim,’ said the Pussum warningly. The suave young Russian rose and took Halliday by the arm, leading him away.

    1921, DH Lawrence, Women in Love
33. 33
    verb

    To roam the streets after dark.
34. 34
    verbslang

    To pour masses of data onto someone or something not ready, usually without planning to read it closely.