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Meaning of case in English
Pronunciation
/keɪs/
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Verb
case
Definitions
1.
look over, usually with the intention to rob
Examples
« They men cased the housed »
2.
enclose in, or as if in, a case
Examples
« my feet were encased in mud »
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 »
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 »
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 »
4.
a problem requiring investigation
Examples
« Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir »
5.
the actual state of things
Examples
« that was not the case »
6.
a statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument
Examples
« he stated his case clearly »
7.
a portable container for carrying several objects
Examples
« the musicians left their instrument cases backstage »
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 »
9.
a person requiring professional services
Examples
« a typical case was the suburban housewife described by a marriage counselor »
10.
the quantity contained in a case
11.
a glass container used to store and display items in a shop or museum or home
12.
a specific state of mind that is temporary
Examples
« a case of the jitters »
13.
nouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentence
14.
the housing or outer covering of something
Examples
« the clock has a walnut case »
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 »
16.
an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part
17.
the enclosing frame around a door or window opening
Examples
« the casings had rotted away and had to be replaced »
18.
bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow
Examples
« the burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase »