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chase

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verb British English pronunciation: chase /tʃeɪs/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theychase
he/she/itchases
present participlechasing
past tensechased
past participlechased
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to follow someone or something quickly in order to catch them

    They were chased by photographers as they took their son to school.

    chase after:

    I chased after the robbers for more than a mile.

    chase someone/something down/up/along something:

    The band have often been chased down the street by enthusiastic fans.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
    1. a.
      [transitive] to follow someone or something quickly in order to make them go away
      chase someone/something off:

      The male fish chases off other males that try to get too close to the females.

      chase someone/something away:

      He chased the snakes away with a stick.

      chase someone/something out of something:

      We chased the cat out of the house.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
  2. 2
    [transitive] to force someone out of a position of power
    chase someone/something from something:

    The military leaders were chased from power two years ago.

    chase someone/something out of something:

    Amin was chased out of the country in 1979.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
  3. 3
    [intransitive] informal to do something in a hurry
    chase down/up/along:

    I saw Jill chasing up the path waving a letter.

    chase round:

    I’ve been chasing round all week buying presents.

    chase all over:

    There’s no sense in chasing all over the country.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
  4. 4
    [transitive] to try hard to get something you want such as a job, prize, or money

    Tiger Woods was chasing another European title.

    Many companies are still chasing debts that are more than five years old.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
    1. a.
      [intransitive/transitive] to try to get someone to have a sexual relationship with you

      Aren’t you getting a bit old for chasing girls?

      chase after:

      She could not imagine him chasing after other women.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase
  5. 5
    [transitive] art to decorate metal using a special tool

    an elaborately chased silver dish

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  chaseThesaurus entry for this meaning of chase

This is the British English definition of chase. View American English definition of chase.

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