/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
]
cat|tle
/kæ
t
ə
l/ N‑PLURAL
Cattle
are cows and bulls. □
…the finest herd of beef cattle for two hundred miles.
ca
t|tle grid
(
cattle grids
) N‑COUNT
A
cattle grid
is a set of metal bars in the surface of a road which prevents cattle and sheep from walking along the road, but allows people and vehicles to pass. [BRIT
]
in AM, use cattle guard
ca
t|tle guard
(
cattle guards
) N‑COUNT
A
cattle guard
is the same as a
cattle grid
. [AM
]
cattle|man
/kæ
t
ə
lmæn/ (cattlemen
) N‑COUNT
A
cattleman
is a man who looks after or owns cattle, especially in North America or Australia.
ca
t|tle mar|ket
(
cattle markets
)
1
N‑COUNT
A
cattle market
is a market where cattle are bought and sold.
2
N‑COUNT
If you refer to an event such as a disco or a beauty contest as a
cattle market
, you disapprove of it because women are considered there only in terms of their sexual attractiveness. [DISAPPROVAL
]
ca
t|tle prod
(
cattle prods
) N‑COUNT
A
cattle prod
is an object shaped like a long stick. Farmers make cattle move in a particular direction by pushing the cattle prod against the bodies of the animals. □
…an electric cattle prod.