catch-up: Meaning and Definition of

catch-up

Pronunciation: (kach'up"), [key]
— n.
  1. an effort to reach or pass a norm, esp. after a period of delay: After the slowdown there was a catch-up in production.
  2. an effort to catch up with or surpass a competitor, as in a sports contest.
  3. an instance of catching up.
  4. to make a special effort to overcome a late start, a liability, or the advantage a competitor has: After Russia launched the first space satellite, other countries had to play catch-up.
—adj.
  1. intended to keep up with or surpass a norm or competitor: a catch-up pay raise to offset inflation.

catch•up

Pronunciation: (kach'up, kech'-), [key]
— n.
  1. ketchup.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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