catcher

[ kach-er ]

/ ˈkætʃ ər /

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noun

a person or thing that catches.

Baseball. the player stationed behind home plate, whose chief duty is to catch pitches not hit by the batter.

a member of an aerialist team, as in a circus, who hangs head down from a trapeze and catches another member who has completed a jump or somersault through the air.

Metalworking. a person who feeds metal rods through a looping mill.

Also called catch·er res·o·na·tor. Electronics. See under Klystron.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of catcher

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at catch, -er¹

Words nearby catcher

catch-colt, catch-cord, catch crop, catchcry, catch dog, catcher, catcher's box, catch fire, catchfly, catching, catching pen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use catcher in a sentence

This seems particularly relevant, since many players have already reported to their team’s facilities in Florida and Arizona — and some teams’ pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report a week from today.
MLB, players’ union agree to health and safety protocols, clearing way for spring training to start|Chelsea Janes|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
Some of the finest catchers in the history of the game excelled in their 30s.
Plenty Of Catchers Peak After 30. Will The Mets Get Lucky With James McCann?|Howard Megdal|February 8, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Kelce, typically an automatic catcher, dropped a crucial third-down pass deep in Kansas City territory, which led to rookie Tommy Townsend’s shanked punt.
What went wrong for the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in a brutal Super Bowl defeat|Adam Kilgore|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
He should demand a long-term, nine-figure contract as the sport’s best catcher.
Jon Lester’s reasonable contract leaves the Nationals room to address their remaining needs|Jesse Dougherty|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

The stable of productive pass catchers from Alabama runs deep with John Metchie, Slade Bolden and even tight end Miller Forristall contributing significantly.
What To Watch For In The College Football National Championship|Richard Johnson|January 11, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The most critical person for a timely beginning of trial that day was a cat catcher on contract to the Amereicans.
Iraqi Insurgents Circulate the Lie That They Killed the Judge in Saddam’s Trial|Michael Newton|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1908, Washington Senators catcher Gabby Street attempted to catch a ball being dropped from the top of the Washington Monument.
Weird Washington Monument History|William O’Connor|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Confusion over the catcher's eye black is just the tip of the iceberg for this befuddled limey.
Viral Video of the Day: Bad British MLB Commentary|Alex Chancey, Ben Teitelbaum|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As far as seeing the target, the catcher put tape on his fingers so I could see the signals.
‘No No,’ a Documentary on MLB Pitcher Dock Ellis, Who Pitched a No-Hitter While Tripping on Acid|Marlow Stern|February 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Can you instruct someone how to make an origami ‘cootie catcher’ with just words?
Can You Answer These 10 Oddball Job Interview Questions Asked at America’s Top Tech Companies?|Brian Ries|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ollie Shreck, Rube's regular catcher, wouldn't sign a contract one season.
The Boy Grew Older|Heywood Broun
The fly-catcher (stoparola) has not yet appeared; it usually breeds in my vine.
The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 1|Gilbert White
The Chinese thief-catcher went about his work in a scientific fashion.
The Daffodil Mystery|Edgar Wallace
The water pitcher was traded by Cap Kiefer, catcher of the nine, you know.
The Varmint|Owen Johnson
A catcher is one who seizes the rolled plate as it comes out and throws it back to the roller.
The Iron Puddler|James J. Davis

British Dictionary definitions for catcher

catcher

/ (ˈkætʃə) /

noun

a person or thing that catches, esp in a game or sport

baseball a fielder who stands behind home plate and catches pitched balls not hit by the batter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012