CATS

UK: /kæts/

From the verb cat: (⇒ conjugate)

cats is: ⓘ

v 3rd person singular

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

CATS / kæts/ acronym:noun

1. credit accumulation transfer scheme: a scheme enabling school-leavers and others to acquire transferable certificates for relevant work experience and study towards a recognized qualification

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cat¹ /kæt/   n. [countable]

1. Mammals a small, furry, carnivorous animal often kept as a pet:
   Our cats like to play with string.
2. Mammals a grouping of similar animals, as the lion, tiger, leopard, or jaguar, and including numerous small wild cats:
   The cats were kept next to the bears at the zoo.
3. Slang Terms Slang.
   • a person, esp. a man:
     a cool cat.

Idioms

4. Idioms let the cat out of the bag, to reveal, tell, or make known a secret.

cat.,  an abbreviation of:

1. catalog;
   catalogue.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cat¹  (kat), n., v., cat•ted, cat•ting. 
n. 

1. Mammals a small domesticated carnivore, Felis domestica or F. catus, bred in a number of varieties.
2. any of several carnivores of the family Felidae, as the lion, tiger, leopard or jaguar, etc.
3. Slang Terms
   • a person, esp. a man.
   • a devotee of jazz.
4. Sex and Gender a woman given to spiteful or malicious gossip.
5. Textiles the fur of the domestic cat.
6. a cat-o'-nine-tails.
7. Games
   • British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] the tapering piece of wood used in the game of tipcat.
   • British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] the game itself.
   • See four old cat, one old cat, three old cat, two old cat. 
8. Nautical, Naval Terms a catboat.
9. Nautical, Naval Terms a catamaran.
10. Fish a catfish.
11. Nautical, Naval Terms a tackle used in hoisting an anchor to the cathead.
12. a double tripod having six legs but resting on only three no matter how it is set down, usually used before or over a fire.
13. Nautical, Naval Terms, Informal Terms [Navy Informal.] catapult (def. 2).
14. Military (in medieval warfare) a movable shelter for providing protection when approaching a fortification.
15. Idioms bell the cat, to attempt something formidable or dangerous.
16. Idioms let the cat out of the bag, to divulge a secret, esp. inadvertently or carelessly:
    He let the cat out of the bag, and the surprise party wasn't a surprise after all.

v.t. 

17. to flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails.
18. Nautical, Naval Terms to hoist (an anchor) and secure to a cathead.

v.i. 

19. British Terms to vomit.
20. Slang Terms cat around:
    • to spend one's time aimlessly or idly.
    • to seek sexual activity indiscriminately;
      tomcat.

• Gmc), Late Latin cattus, catta (first attested in the 4th century, presumably with the introduction of domestic cats); ultimately origin, originally obscure
• bef. 900; Middle English cat, catte, Old English catt (masculine), catte (feminine); cognate with Old Frisian, Middle Dutch katte, Old High German kazza, Old Norse kǫttr, Irish cat, Welsh cath (Slavic *kotù, Lithuanian katė̃ perh.

Cat¹  (kat),

1. [Trademark.] a Caterpillar tractor.

CAT, 

1. Meteorology clear-air turbulence.
2. Medicine computerized axial tomography. Cf. CAT scanner.

cat., 

1. catalog;
   catalogue.
2. catechism.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cat / kæt/ noun

1. Also called: domestic cat a small domesticated feline mammal, Felis catus (or domesticus), having thick soft fur and occurring in many breeds in which the colour of the fur varies greatly: kept as a pet or to catch rats and mice
2. Also called: big cat any of the larger felines, such as a lion or tiger
3. any wild feline mammal of the genus Felis, such as the lynx or serval, resembling the domestic cat
   Related adjective(s): feline
4. someone who gossips maliciously
5. a man; guy
6. a heavy tackle for hoisting an anchor to the cathead
7. a short sharp-ended piece of wood used in the game of tipcat
8. short for catboat
9. short for cat-o'-nine-tails
10. a bag of cats ⇒ a bad-tempered person: she's a real bag of cats this morning
11. fight like Kilkenny cats ⇒ to fight until both parties are destroyed
12. let the cat out of the bag ⇒ to disclose a secret, often by mistake
13. like a cat on a hot tin roof, like a cat on hot bricks ⇒ in an uneasy or agitated state
14. like cat and dog ⇒ quarrelling savagely
15. look like something the cat brought in ⇒ to appear dishevelled or bedraggled
16. not a cat in hell's chance ⇒ no chance at all
17. not have room to swing a cat ⇒ to have very little space
18. play cat and mouse ⇒ to play with a person or animal in a cruel or teasing way, esp before a final act of cruelty or unkindness
19. put the cat among the pigeons ⇒ to introduce some violently disturbing new element
20. rain cats and dogs ⇒ to rain very heavily

verb (cats, catting, catted)

1. (transitive) to flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails
2. (transitive) to hoist (an anchor) to the cathead
3. (intransitive)
   a slang word for vomit

Etymology: Old English catte, from Latin cattus; related to Old Norse köttr, Old High German kazza, Old French chat, Russian kot

ˈcatˌlike adjective

ˈcattish adjective

cat / kæt/ noun

1. 
   short for catamaran1

cat / kæt/ noun

1. short for catalytic converter
2. (as modifier): a cat car

adjective

1. short for catalytic: a cat cracker