Meaning of case in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /keɪs/

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  1. Verb

    case

    Definitions

    1. look over, usually with the intention to rob

    Examples

    • « They men cased the housed »
  2. 2. enclose in, or as if in, a case

    Examples

    • « my feet were encased in mud »

  3. Noun

    case

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French cas, from Latin casus‘fall’, related to cadere‘to fall’; in case (sense 4) directly from Latin, translating Greek ptōsis, literally ‘fall’

    Definitions

    1. a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy

    Examples

    • « the family brought suit against the landlord »
  4. 2. an occurrence of something

    Examples

    • « it was a case of bad judgment »
    • « another instance occurred yesterday »
    • « but there is always the famous example of the Smiths »
  5. 3. a special set of circumstances

    Examples

    • « in that event, the first possibility is excluded »
    • « it may rain in which case the picnic will be canceled »
  6. 4. a problem requiring investigation

    Examples

    • « Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir »
  7. 5. the actual state of things

    Examples

    • « that was not the case »
  8. 6. a statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument

    Examples

    • « he stated his case clearly »
  9. 7. a portable container for carrying several objects

    Examples

    • « the musicians left their instrument cases backstage »
  10. 8. a person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures

    Examples

    • « someone who is an object of investigation »
    • « the subjects for this investigation were selected randomly »
    • « the cases that we studied were drawn from two different communities »
  11. 9. a person requiring professional services

    Examples

    • « a typical case was the suburban housewife described by a marriage counselor »
  12. 10. the quantity contained in a case
  13. 11. a glass container used to store and display items in a shop or museum or home
  14. 12. a specific state of mind that is temporary

    Examples

    • « a case of the jitters »
  15. 13. nouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentence
  16. 14. the housing or outer covering of something

    Examples

    • « the clock has a walnut case »
  17. 15. a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)

    Examples

    • « a real character »
    • « a strange character »
    • « a friendly eccentric »
    • « the capable type »
    • « a mental case »
  18. 16. an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part
  19. 17. the enclosing frame around a door or window opening

    Examples

    • « the casings had rotted away and had to be replaced »
  20. 18. bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow

    Examples

    • « the burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase »