Any animal belonging to the natural family Felidae, and in particular to the various species of the genera Felis, Panthera, and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus). The larger felines, such as the lion, tiger, leopard, and cougar, are often referred to as cats, and sometimes as big cats. See Wild cat, and Tiger cat.

To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor.

the bushy-tailed European wildcat (Felis silvestris) resembling the domestic tabby and regarded as the ancestor of the domestic cat.

Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.

See Cat-harping.

One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.

One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.

a whip used as an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back; -- called also the cat. It was used in the British Navy to maintain discipline on board sailing ships.

Rigged like a catboat.

A sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or leach brine.

Mica.

A tall erect rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing widely in fresh and salt marshes, with long, flat, sword-shaped leaves, having clusters of small brown flowers in a dense cylindrical spike at the top of the stem; -- called also bulrush and reed mace. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.

A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The name is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.

A plant (Nepeta Glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground ivy.

A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air. A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked.

See Timothy, Cat-tail, Cirrus.

having a slanted or oblique direction.

One who opposes baptism, especially of infants.

A vault under altar of a Greek church.

See under Force.

Of or pertaining to catabolism; as, catabolic processes, which give rise to substances (katastates) of decreasing complexity and increasing stability.

the breakdown of more complex substances into simpler ones with release of energy, in living organisms; destructive or downward metabolism; -- a form of metabolism, opposed to anabolism. See also Disassimilation.

a genus of moths whose larvae are cutworms: underwings.

A caustic curve formed by reflection of light.

A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, /To take arms against a sea of troubles/. Shak. /Her voice was but the shadow of a sound./ Young.

Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; constituting, characterized by or given to catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fetched.

A breaking asunder; disruption.

running in the direction of the dip in surrounding rock strata; -- of valleys and rivers. Opposite of anaclinal.

An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.

Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.

One who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms.

A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural.

That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics.

Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions of the artery in the same beat.

Quality or state of being catacrotic.

Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light.

The science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the used of catadioptric instruments.

A race course.

Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.

See Catafalque.

A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.

Having the quality of consolidating broken bones.

A native of Cathay or China; a foreigner; -- formerly a term of reproach.

Of or pertaining to Catalonia. A native or inhabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of Catalonia.

an enzyme found in most plant and animal cells that functions as an oxidative catalyst; it decomposes hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and water.

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of catalases.

Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.

A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.

Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.

A division of Protozoa, of which Magosph/ra is the type. They exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.

The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy.

Catalogue.

To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue.

To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.

A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of catalogues.

a geographical and administrative region of northeastern Spain.

A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best known species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the Catalpa speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; -- called also Indian bean.

a type of brightly colored carnivorous fish (Priacanthus arenatus) of the West Atlantic and West Indies waters.

same as catalyze.

a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected; as, thousands of enzymes serve in concert as calaysts to produce the sequence of reactions we call /life/; the industrial production of cheap ammonia depended on finding a good catalyst.

to cause (a chemical reaction) to proceed more quickly by contacting the reactant(s) with another substance; as, moisture catalyzes the oxidation of iron in air.

A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.

Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.

A boy kept for unnatural purposes.

The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the lynx.

Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous.

A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc.

Of or pertaining to a catapult.

Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

That branch of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds; catacoustics.

Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.

Unnatural; contrary to nature.

A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice.

A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles.

Spurge.

A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as, catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

Catarrhal.

Checking evacuations through astringent or styptic qualities.

That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars.

An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune.

Of a pertaining to a catastrophe.

The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

One who holds the theory or catastrophism.

an abnormal behavioral syndrome characterized by stupor, negativism, and muscular rigidity, sometimes alternating with purposeless excitement, and seen most frequently in schizophrenia; called also catatonic schizophrenia.

a person suffering from catatonia.

A well known light red variety of American grape.

An Appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a gaff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

a very prickly woody vine of eastern U.S. (Smilax rotundifolia) growing in tangled masses, having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries.

A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.

Act of seizing; a grasp.

Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time.

A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to catch bulky matters which would not pass readily through the sewer.

A meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.

Capable of being caught.

A ditch or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.

One who, or that which, catches.

A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.

The act of seizing or taking hold of.

A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.

Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. Some worthless catchpenny thing.

A bailiff's assistant.

A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.

See Cleavers.

Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.

Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

A work or artificial water-course for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.

Food.

Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching.

In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.