Collins English Thesaurus Essential. Collins Dictionaries
and eye, snib (Scot.), sneck (dialect, chiefly Scot. & Northern English) 2 (informal) It sounds too good to be true – what's the catch? = drawback, trick, trap, disadvantage, hitch, snag, stumbling block, fly in the ointment ◼ OPPOSITE: advantage ● catch on 1 (informal) He tried to explain it to me, but it took me a while to catch on. = understand, see, find out, grasp, see through, comprehend, twig (Brit. informal), get the picture, see the light of day 2 The idea has been around for ages without catching on. = become popular, take off, become trendy, come into fashioncatchcry NOUN = catch phrase, slogan, saying, quotation, mottocatching ADJECTIVE = infectious, contagious, transferable, communicable, infective, transmittable ◼ OPPOSITE: non-infectiouscatch phrase NOUN = slogan, saying, quotation, motto, catchword, catchcry (Austral.)catchy ADJECTIVE = memorable, haunting, unforgettable, captivatingcategorical ADJECTIVE = absolute, direct, express, positive, explicit, unconditional, emphatic, downright, unequivocal, unqualified, unambiguous, unreserved ◼ OPPOSITE: vaguecategory NOUN = class, grouping, heading, head, order, sort, list, department, type, division, section, rank, grade, classification, genrecater VERB ● cater for something or someone 1 Thirty restaurants and hotels catered for the event. = provide for, supply, provision, purvey, victual 2 We have to cater for the demands of the marketplace. = take into account, consider, bear in mind, make allowance for, have regard for ● cater to something or someone His parents spoil him and cater to his every whim. = indulge, spoil, minister to, pamper, gratify, pander to, coddle, mollycoddlecatharsis NOUN = release, cleansing, purging, purificationcatholic ADJECTIVE = wide, general, liberal, global, varied, comprehensive, universal, world-wide, tolerant, eclectic, all-inclusive, ecumenical, all-embracing, broad-minded, unbigoted, unsectarian, multicultural, multiculti (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: limitedcattle PLURAL NOUN = cows, stock, beasts, livestock, bovines ◼ RELATED WORDS: adjective bovine; noun drove, herdcaucus NOUN = group, division, section, camp, sector, lobby, bloc, contingent, pressure group, junta, public-interest group (U.S. & Canad.)cause NOUN 1 The article lists the major causes of panic attacks. = origin, source, agency, spring, agent, maker, producer, root, beginning, creator, genesis, originator, prime mover, mainspring ◼ OPPOSITE: result 2 There is obvious cause for concern. = reason, call, need, grounds, basis, incentive, motive, motivation, justification, inducement 3 His comments have done nothing to help the cause of peace. = aim, movement, purpose, principle, object, ideal, enterprise, end ▸ VERB I don't want to cause any trouble. = produce, begin, create, effect, lead to, occasion (formal), result in, generate, provoke, compel, motivate, induce, bring about, give rise to, precipitate, incite, engender ◼ OPPOSITE: preventcaustic ADJECTIVE 1 This substance is caustic; use gloves when handling it. = burning, corrosive, corroding, astringent, vitriolic, acrid 2 He was well known for his abrasive wit and caustic comments. = sarcastic, biting, keen, cutting, severe, stinging, scathing, acrimonious, pungent, vitriolic, trenchant, mordant ◼ OPPOSITE: kindcaution NOUN 1 Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution in icy weather. = care, discretion, heed, prudence, vigilance, alertness, forethought, circumspection, watchfulness, belt and braces, carefulness, heedfulness ◼ OPPOSITE: carelessness 2 The others got off with a caution but I was fined. = reprimand, warning, injunction, admonition ▸ VERB 1 He cautioned against having unrealistic expectations. = warn, urge, advise, alert, tip off, forewarn, put you on your guard 2 The two men were cautioned but the police say they will not be charged. = reprimand, warn, admonish, give an injunction tocautious ADJECTIVE = careful, guarded, alert, wary, discreet, tentative, prudent, vigilant, watchful, judicious, circumspect, cagey (informal), on your toes, chary, belt-and-braces, keeping a weather eye on ◼ OPPOSITE: carelesscautiously ADVERB = carefully, alertly, discreetly, tentatively, warily, prudently, judiciously, guardedly, circumspectly, watchfully, vigilantly, cagily (informal), mindfullycavalcade NOUN = parade, train, procession, march-pastcavalier ADJECTIVE = offhand, lordly, arrogant, lofty, curt, condescending, haughty, scornful, disdainful, insolent, superciliouscavalry NOUN = horsemen, horse, mounted troops ◼ OPPOSITE: infantrymencave NOUN = hollow, cavern, grotto, den, cavitycaveat NOUN = warning, caution, admonition, qualification, proviso, reservation, conditioncavern NOUN = cave, hollow, grotto, underground chambercavernous ADJECTIVE = vast, wide, huge, enormous, extensive, immense, spacious, expansive, capacious, commodiouscavity NOUN = hollow, hole, gap, pit, dent, cratercavort VERB = frolic, sport, romp, caper, prance, frisk, gambolcease VERB 1 Almost miraculously, the noise ceased. = stop, end, finish, be over, come to an end, peter out, die away ◼ OPPOSITE: start 2 A small number of firms have ceased trading. = discontinue, end, stop, fail, finish, give up, conclude, suspend, halt, terminate, break off, refrain, leave off, give over (informal), bring to an end, desist, belay (Nautical) ◼ OPPOSITE: beginceaseless ADJECTIVE = continual, constant, endless, continuous, eternal, perennial, perpetual, never-ending, interminable, incessant, everlasting, unending, unremitting, nonstop, untiring ◼ OPPOSITE: occasionalcede VERB = surrender, grant, transfer, abandon, yield, concede, hand over, relinquish, renounce, make over, abdicatecelebrate VERB 1 I was in a mood to celebrate. = rejoice, party, enjoy yourself, carouse, live it up (informal), whoop it up (informal), make merry, paint the town red (informal), go on a spree, put the flags out, roister, kill the fatted calf 2 Tom celebrated his birthday two days ago. = commemorate, honour, observe, toast, drink to, keep 3 Pope John Paul celebrated mass today in a city in central Poland. = perform, observe, preside over, officiate at, solemnize 4 a festival to celebrate the life and work of this great composer = praise, honour, commend (informal), glorify, publicize, exalt, laud (literary), extol, eulogizecelebrated ADJECTIVE = renowned, popular, famous, outstanding, distinguished, well-known, prominent, glorious, acclaimed, notable, eminent, revered, famed, illustrious, pre-eminent, lionized ◼ OPPOSITE: unknowncelebration NOUN 1 There was a celebration in our house that night. = party, festival, gala, jubilee, festivity, rave (Brit. slang), beano (Brit. slang), revelry, red-letter day, rave-up (Brit. slang), merrymaking, carousal, -fest (in combination), hooley or hoolie (chiefly Irish & N.Z.) 2 This was not a memorial service but a celebration of his life. = commemoration, honouring, remembrance 3 the celebration of Mass in Latin = performance, observance, solemnizationcelebrity NOUN 1 At the age of twelve, he was already a celebrity. = personality, name, star, superstar, big name, dignitary, luminary, bigwig (informal), celeb (informal), face (informal), big shot (informal), personage, megastar (informal), V.I.P. ◼ OPPOSITE: nobody 2 She has finally achieved celebrity after 25 years as a performer. = fame, reputation, honour, glory, popularity, distinction, prestige, prominence, stardom, renown, pre-eminence, repute, éclat, notability ◼ OPPOSITE: obscuritycelestial ADJECTIVE 1 the clusters of celestial bodies in the ever-expanding universe = astronomical, planetary, stellar, astral, extraterrestrial 2 gods and other celestial beings = heavenly, spiritual, divine, eternal, sublime, immortal, supernatural, astral, ethereal, angelic, godlike, seraphiccelibacy NOUN = chastity, purity, virginity, continence, singlenesscelibate ADJECTIVE = chaste, single, unmarried, pure, virgin, continentcell NOUN 1 They took her back to the cell, and just left her there. = room, chamber, lock-up, compartment, cavity, cubicle, dungeon, stall 2 a spy cell of about three people = unit, group, section, core, nucleus, caucus, coteriecement NOUN 1 The stone work has all been pointed with cement. = mortar, plaster, paste 2 Stick the pieces on with tile cement. = sealant, glue, gum, adhesive, binder ▸ VERB