class: …the division of the stars into six classes of brightness.
genre: …his love of films and novels in the horror genre.
sort: What sort of school did you go to?
type: In 1990, 25% of households were of this type.
ca|ter /ke I tə r / (caters , catering , catered )
1 VERB In British English, to cater for a group of people means to provide all the things that they need or want. In American English, you say you cater to a person or group of people. □ [V + for ] Minorca is the sort of place that caters for families. □ [V + to ] We cater to an exclusive clientele.
2 VERB In British English, to cater for something means to take it into account. In American English, you say you cater to something. □ [V + for ] …shops that cater for the needs of men. □ [V + to ] Exercise classes cater to all levels of fitness.
3 VERB If a person or company caters for an occasion such as a wedding or a party, they provide food and drink for all the people there. □ [V + for ] Nunsmere Hall can cater for receptions of up to 300 people. □ [V n] Does he cater parties too?
4 → see also catering , self-catering
ca|ter|er /ke I tərə r / (caterers ) N‑COUNT Caterers are people or companies that provide food and drink for a place such as an office or for special occasions such as weddings and parties. □ …food brought in from outside caterers.
ca|ter|ing /ke I tər I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N , oft N n] Catering is the activity of providing food and drink for a large number of people, for example at weddings and parties. □ [+ for ] He recently did the catering for a presidential reception.
cat|er|pil|lar /kæ tə r p I lə r / (caterpillars ) N‑COUNT A caterpillar is a small, worm-like animal that feeds on plants and eventually develops into a butterfly or moth.
cat|er|waul /kæ tə r wɔːl/ (caterwauls , caterwauling , caterwauled ) VERB If a person or animal caterwauls , they make a loud, high, unpleasant noise like the noise that cats make when they fight. □ [V ] …shrieking and caterwauling in mock distress. ● N‑COUNT Caterwaul is also a noun. □ …blood-curdling caterwauls. ● cat|er|waul|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …high-pitched moaning and caterwauling.
cat|fight /kæ tfa I t/ (catfights ) N‑COUNT A catfight is an angry fight or quarrel, especially between women. [mainly JOURNALISM ] □ A catfight has erupted over who will get top billing.
cat|fish /kæ tf I ʃ/ (catfish ) N‑VAR Catfish are a type of fish that have long thin spines around their mouths.
ca|thar|sis /kəθɑː r s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Catharsis is getting rid of unhappy memories or strong emotions such as anger or sadness by expressing them in some way. □ He wrote out his rage, which gradually became a form of catharsis.
ca|thar|tic /kəθɑː r t I k/ ADJ Something that is cathartic has the effect of catharsis. [FORMAL ] □ His laughter was cathartic, an animal yelp that brought tears to his eyes.
ca|thedral /kəθiː drəl/ (cathedrals ) N‑COUNT A cathedral is a very large and important church which has a bishop in charge of it. □ …St. Paul's Cathedral. □ …the cathedral city of Canterbury.
Cath|er|ine wheel /kæ θər I n h wiːl/ (Catherine wheels ) also catherine wheel N‑COUNT A Catherine wheel is a firework in the shape of a circle which spins round and round.
cath|eter /kæ θ I tə r / (catheters ) N‑COUNT A catheter is a tube which is used to introduce liquids into a human body or to withdraw liquids from it. [MEDICAL ]
cath|ode /kæ θoʊd/ (cathodes ) N‑COUNT A cathode is the negative electrode in a cell such as a battery. Compare anode .
ca thode-ray tube (cathode-ray tubes ) N‑COUNT A cathode-ray tube is a device in televisions and computer terminals which sends an image onto the screen. [TECHNICAL ]
Catho|lic ◆◇◇ /kæ θl I k/ (Catholics )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] The Catholic Church is the branch of the Christian Church that accepts the Pope as its leader and is based in the Vatican in Rome. □ …the Catholic Church. □ …Catholic priests. □ …the Catholic faith.
2 → see also Anglo-Catholic
3 N‑COUNT A Catholic is a member of the Catholic Church. □ At least nine out of ten Mexicans are baptised Catholics.
4 ADJ If you describe a collection of things or people as catholic , you are emphasizing that they are very varied. □ He was a man of catholic tastes, a lover of grand opera, history and the fine arts.
Ca|tholi|cism /kəθɒ l I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Catholicism is the traditions, the behaviour, and the set of Christian beliefs that are held by Catholics. □ …her conversion to Catholicism.
cat|kin /kæ tk I n/ (catkins ) N‑COUNT A catkin is a long, thin, soft flower that hangs on some trees, for example birch trees and hazel trees.
cat|nap /kæ tnæp/ (catnaps ) also cat-nap N‑COUNT A catnap is a short sleep, usually one which you have during the day. [INFORMAL ]
cat|suit /kæ tsuːt/ (catsuits ) N‑COUNT A catsuit is a piece of women's clothing that is made in one piece and fits tightly over the body and legs. [BRIT ]
cat|sup /kæ tsəp/ → see ketchup
cat|tery /kæ təri/ (catteries ) N‑COUNT A cattery is a place where you can leave your cat to be looked after when you go on holiday. [BRIT ]