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
Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
Bockman lives in Woodbury with her husband, 10-year-old son and cat.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The cat may have a case of conjunctivitis, the cat may have some trauma to the eye such as a corneal lesion as a result of a cat fight, or a foreign body got into the eye and is working itself out.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Authorities are now trying to untangle what happened at the Pacific Street business, where a number of dogs and cats remain in freezers, some reportedly in poor condition and without identifying tags.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cat
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Noun
Elvis was adopted by Sharon and Ozzy and became a cherished member of their large family of animals, which over the years has included dogs, cats, and even rescue pigs.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
Bockman lives in Woodbury with her husband, 10-year-old son and cat.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The cat may have a case of conjunctivitis, the cat may have some trauma to the eye such as a corneal lesion as a result of a cat fight, or a foreign body got into the eye and is working itself out.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Authorities are now trying to untangle what happened at the Pacific Street business, where a number of dogs and cats remain in freezers, some reportedly in poor condition and without identifying tags.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 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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