chases

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of chase.

   The detective chases every lead until the case finally breaks open.

   A border collie chases the stray sheep back toward the flock.

   Note

   The regular -s form that goes with he, she, it or a singular noun. Every meaning of the verb takes an object, so the word rarely stands alone. A dog chases a ball, an ambitious colleague chases a promotion, and a drinker chases whiskey with beer. If chases has nothing after it, check whether it is really the plural noun.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of chase.

   Action films are often remembered for their elaborate car chases.

   Several high-speed chases through the city ended without any injuries.

   Note

   As a noun, the plural counts pursuits: car chases, a season's hunts, even several British country chases where game was shot. It does not stretch to the children's game, which is simply played as chase and never as chases. The same letters also spell the verb form (she chases), so only the sentence around the word shows which one is meant.

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