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Idioms about chase

    cut to the chase, Informal. to get to the main point.

Origin of chase

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chacen, chacien, from Middle French chasser “to hunt,” Old French chacier, from unattested Vulgar Latin captiāre; see catch

OTHER WORDS FROM chase

chase·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chase

chased , chaste

Other definitions for chase (2 of 4)

chase2
[ cheys ]
/ tʃeɪs /

noun
a rectangular iron frame in which composed type is secured or locked for printing or platemaking.
Building Trades. a space or groove in a masonry wall or through a floor for pipes or ducts.
a groove, furrow, or trench; a lengthened hollow.
Ordnance.
  1. the part of a gun in front of the trunnions.
  2. the part containing the bore.

Origin of chase

2
First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French chas, chasse, from Late Latin capsus (masculine), capsum (neuter) “fully or partly enclosed space,” variant of capsa case2

Other definitions for chase (3 of 4)

chase3
[ cheys ]
/ tʃeɪs /

verb (used with object), chased, chas·ing.
to ornament (metal) by engraving or embossing.
to cut (a screw thread), as with a chaser or machine tool.

Origin of chase

3
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English chased (past participle); shortened variant of enchase

Other definitions for chase (4 of 4)

Chase
[ cheys ]
/ tʃeɪs /

noun
Mary Ellen, 1887–1973, U.S. educator, novelist, and essayist.
Sal·mon Portland [sal-muhn], /ˈsæl mən/, 1808–73, U.S. jurist and statesman: secretary of the treasury 1861–64; chief justice of the U.S. 1864–73.
Samuel, 1741–1811, U.S. jurist and leader in the American Revolution: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1796–1811.
Stuart, 1888–1985, U.S. economist and writer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chase in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chase (1 of 3)

chase1
/ (tʃeɪs) /

verb
noun

Derived forms of chase

chaseable, adjective

Word Origin for chase

C13: from Old French chacier, from Vulgar Latin captiāre (unattested), from Latin captāre to pursue eagerly, from capere to take; see catch

British Dictionary definitions for chase (2 of 3)

chase2
/ (tʃeɪs) /

noun
printing a rectangular steel or cast-iron frame into which metal type and blocks making up pages are locked for printing or plate-making
the part of a gun barrel from the front of the trunnions to the muzzle
a groove or channel, esp one that is cut in a wall to take a pipe, cable, etc
verb (tr)
Also: chamfer to cut a groove, furrow, or flute in (a surface, column, etc)

Word Origin for chase

C17 (in the sense: frame for letterpress matter): probably from French châsse frame (in the sense: bore of a cannon, etc): from Old French chas enclosure, from Late Latin capsus pen for animals; both from Latin capsa case ²

British Dictionary definitions for chase (3 of 3)

chase3
/ (tʃeɪs) /

verb (tr)
Also: enchase to ornament (metal) by engraving or embossing
to form or finish (a screw thread) with a chaser

Word Origin for chase

C14: from Old French enchasser enchase
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with chase

chase

see ambulance chaser; cut to the chase; give chase; go fly a kite (chase yourself); lead a merry chase; run (chase) after; wild goose chase.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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