caught
/kɔːt/ · caught
verb
- to capture or apprehend something or someone The police caught the thief red-handed.
- to be affected by a disease or infection She caught a cold after being out in the rain.
- to receive or obtain something, especially a ball or a fish He caught a beautiful trout in the river.
noun
- a fish that has been caught The caught fish was too small to eat.
Did you know? The verb 'caught' has a unique property where it can be used as a past tense and past participle of the verb 'catch', but it can also be used as a past tense and past participle of the verb 'catch' in the sense of 'to receive or obtain something'. This dual usage is a result of the verb's complex history and evolution.