often attributive
1
a
: a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
b
: any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (such as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)
2
a
: guy
some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him—
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
b
: a player or devotee of jazz
3
: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
6
7
: a malicious woman
especially
: one given to making catty remarks about other women
catted; catting
usually vulgar
: to search for a sexual mate
—often used with around
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
1
catalog
2
catalyst
1
clean-air turbulence
2
computerized axial tomography
Examples of cat in a Sentence
Noun
I have two dogs and a cat.
the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
The bowls are quite deep and narrow and aren’t super easy for cats to reach, which could cause whisker fatigue.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025
In an interview with Paris Match, published April 9, Hamrick finally let the cat out of the bag.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
The proud mom's birthday post featured a series of photos of Mila happily enjoying a few of the simple things in life — a cuddle with her cat, delicious food and some sibling bonding with her 9-year-old sister Poppy.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cat
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Noun
According to Arm & Hammer, cats can jump up to six times their body length in one leap, thanks to their powerful hind leg muscles and flexible spines.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
The bowls are quite deep and narrow and aren’t super easy for cats to reach, which could cause whisker fatigue.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025
In an interview with Paris Match, published April 9, Hamrick finally let the cat out of the bag.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
The proud mom's birthday post featured a series of photos of Mila happily enjoying a few of the simple things in life — a cuddle with her cat, delicious food and some sibling bonding with her 9-year-old sister Poppy.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cat
Cite this Entry
“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cat
1 of 2 nounoften attributive
1
: a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated and kept as a pet or for catching rats and mice
2
: any of a family (Felidae) of mammals including the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah
CAT
2 of 2 abbreviation
computed axial tomography; computerized axial tomography
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