Vocabulary     

What does case mean?

Definitions for case
keɪscase

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word case.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. case, instance, examplenoun

    an occurrence of something

    "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths"

  2. event, casenoun

    a special set of circumstances

    "in that event, the first possibility is excluded"; "it may rain in which case the picnic will be canceled"

  3. lawsuit, suit, case, cause, causanoun

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

    "the family brought suit against the landlord"

  4. casenoun

    the actual state of things

    "that was not the case"

  5. casenoun

    a portable container for carrying several objects

    "the musicians left their instrument cases backstage"

  6. casenoun

    a person requiring professional services

    "a typical case was the suburban housewife described by a marriage counselor"

  7. subject, case, guinea pignoun

    a person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures; 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"

  8. casenoun

    a problem requiring investigation

    "Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir"

  9. casenoun

    a statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument

    "he stated his case clearly"

  10. case, casefulnoun

    the quantity contained in a case

  11. case, grammatical casenoun

    nouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentence

  12. casenoun

    a specific state of mind that is temporary

    "a case of the jitters"

  13. character, eccentric, type, casenoun

    a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)

    "a real character"; "a strange character"; "a friendly eccentric"; "the capable type"; "a mental case"

  14. font, fount, typeface, face, casenoun

    a specific size and style of type within a type family

  15. sheath, casenoun

    an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part

  16. shell, case, casingnoun

    the housing or outer covering of something

    "the clock has a walnut case"

  17. casing, casenoun

    the enclosing frame around a door or window opening

    "the casings had rotted away and had to be replaced"

  18. case, compositor's case, typesetter's casenoun

    (printing) the receptacle in which a compositor has his type, which is divided into compartments for the different letters, spaces, or numbers

    "for English, a compositor will ordinarily have two such cases, the upper case containing the capitals and the lower case containing the small letters"

  19. case, pillowcase, slip, pillow slipnoun

    bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow

    "the burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase"

  20. case, display case, showcase, vitrineverb

    a glass container used to store and display items in a shop or museum or home

  21. caseverb

    look over, usually with the intention to rob

    "They men cased the housed"

  22. encase, incase, caseverb

    enclose in, or as if in, a case

    "my feet were encased in mud"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. CASEnoun

    Etymology: caisse, Fr. a box.

    O cleave, my sides!
    Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,
    Crack thy frail case. William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra.

    Each thought was visible that roll’d within,
    As through a crystal case the figur’d hours are seen. Dryden.

    Other caterpillars produced maggots, that immediately made themselves up in cases. John Ray, on the Creation.

    The body is but a case to this vehicle. William Broome, on the Odyssey.

    Just then Clarissa drew, with tempting grace,
    A two-edg’d weapon from her shining case. Alexander Pope.

    The case of the holy house is nobly designed, and executed by great masters. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

    He had a purpose likewise to raise, in the university, a fair case for such monuments, and to furnish it with other choice collections from all parts of his own charge. Henry Wotton.

  2. CASEnoun

    Etymology: caisse, Fr. a box.

    Unworthy wretch, quoth he, of so great grace,
    How dare I think such glory to attain?
    These that have it attain’d, were in like case,
    Quoth he, as wretched, and liv’d in like pain. Fairy Queen.

    Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
    Be now a father, and propose a son. William Shakespeare, Henry IV. p. ii.

    Some knew the face,
    And all had heard the much lamented case. Dryden.

    These were the circumstances under which the Corinthians then were, and the argument which the apostle advances, is intended to reach their particular case. Francis Atterbury.

    My youth may be made, as it never fails in executions, a case of compassion. Alexander Pope, Works. Preface to his.

    He saith, that if there can be found such an inequality between man and man, as there is between man and beast, or between soul and body, it investeth a right of government, which seemeth rather an impossible case, than an untrue sentence. Francis Bacon, Holy War.

    Here was the case; an army of English, wasted and tired with a long winter’s siege, engaged an army of a greater number than themselves, fresh and in vigour. Francis Bacon.

    I can but be a slave where-ever I am; so that taken or not taken, ’tis all a case to me. Roger L'Estrange.

    They are excellent in order to certain ends; he hath no need to use them, as the case now stands, being provided for with the provision of an angel. Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living.

    Your parents did not produce you much into the world, whereby you have fewer ill impressions; but they failed, as is generally the case, in too much neglecting to cultivate your mind. Jonathan Swift.

    It was well; for we had rather met with calms and contrary winds, than any tempests; for our sick were many, and in very ill case. Francis Bacon.

    Chalybeate water seems to be a proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. John Arbuthnot, on Aliments.

    Thou liest, most ignorant monster, I am in case to justle a constable. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

    Pray have but patience till then, and when I am in little better case, I’ll throw myself in the very mouth of you. Roger L'Estrange.

    Quoth Ralph, I should not, if I were
    In case for action, now be here. Hudibras, p. i. cant. iii.

    For if the sire be faint, or out of case,
    He will be copy’d in his famish’d race. John Dryden, Virgil.

    The priest was pretty well in case,
    And shew’d some humour in his face;
    Look’d with an easy careless mien,
    A perfect stranger to the spleen. Jonathan Swift.

    The atheist, in case things should fall out contrary to his belief or expectation, hath made no provision for this case; if, contrary to his confidence, it should prove in the issue that there is a God, the man is lost and undone for ever. John Tillotson.

    Well do I find each man most wise in his own case. Philip Sidney.

    It is strange, that the ancient fathers should not appeal to this judge, in all cases, it being so short and expedite a way for the ending of controversies. John Tillotson.

    If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing, to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers cases: so every defect of the mind may have a special receipt. Francis Bacon, Essay 51.

    The several changes which the noun undergoes in the Latin and Greek tongues, in the several numbers, are called cases, and are designed to express the several views or relations under which the mind considers things with regard to one another; and the variation of the noun for this purpose is called declension. John Clarke, Latin Grammar.

    For in case it be certain, hard it cannot be for them to shew us where we shall find it; that we may say these were the orders of the apostles. Richard Hooker, b. iii.

    A sure retreat to his forces, in case they should have an ill day, or unlucky chance in the field. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.

    This would be the accomplishment of their common felicity, in case, either by their evil destiny or advice, they suffered not the occasion to be lost. John Hayward.

  3. To Caseverb

    Etymology: from the noun.

    Case ye, case ye; on with your vizours; there’s money of the king’s coming down the hill. William Shakespeare, Henry IV. p. i.

    The cry went once for thee,
    And still it might, and yet it may again,
    If thou would’st not entomb thyself alive,
    And case thy reputation in a tent. William Shakespeare, Troil. and Cress.

    On whose luxuriant herbage, half conceal’d,
    Like a fall’n cedar, far diffus’d his train,
    Cas’d in green scales, the crocodile extends. James Thomson.

    Then comes my fit again, I had else been perfect;
    As broad, and gen’ral, as the casing air,
    To saucy doubts and fears. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

    Then they began to case their houses with marble. John Arbuthnot, on Coins.

    We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. William Shakespeare, All’s well that ends well.

  4. To Caseverb

    To put cases; to contrive representations of facts.

    They fell presently to reasoning and casing upon the matter with him, and laying distinctions before him. Roger L'Estrange.

ChatGPT

  1. case

    A case can be defined in multiple ways based on its context. 1. In general, it refers to an instance or example of something, often used in research or studies to examine a situation, problem, or person in detail. 2. In relation to law, it signifies a legal matter that is brought to a court. 3. In linguistics, case refers to the grammatical category indicating the relationship of a noun to other elements within a sentence. 4. In terms of packaging and storing, a case refers to a container or box used to protect or neatly store items. 5. In Medicine, it refers to a particular instance of a disease or health condition in a patient. 6. In computer programming, it might refer to a specific condition or scenario being evaluated in the structure of a program.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Casenoun

    a box, sheath, or covering; as, a case for holding goods; a case for spectacles; the case of a watch; the case (capsule) of a cartridge; a case (cover) for a book

  2. Casenoun

    a box and its contents; the quantity contained in a box; as, a case of goods; a case of instruments

  3. Casenoun

    a shallow tray divided into compartments or "boxes" for holding type

  4. Casenoun

    an inclosing frame; a casing; as, a door case; a window case

  5. Casenoun

    a small fissure which admits water to the workings

  6. Caseverb

    to cover or protect with, or as with, a case; to inclose

  7. Caseverb

    to strip the skin from; as, to case a box

  8. Casenoun

    chance; accident; hap; opportunity

  9. Casenoun

    that which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a circumstance, or all the circumstances; condition; state of things; affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the Indian tribes

  10. Casenoun

    a patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury

  11. Casenoun

    the matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause

  12. Casenoun

    one of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word

  13. Caseverb

    to propose hypothetical cases

  14. Etymology: [OF. casse, F. caisse (cf. It. cassa), fr. L. capsa chest, box, case, fr. capere to take, hold. See Capacious, and cf. 4th Chase, Cash, Enchase, 3d Sash.]

Wikidata

  1. Case

    Case Woodard, stage name Case is a Grammy-nominated American R&B singer-songwriter.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Case

    kās, n. a covering, box, or sheath: a set: an outer coating for walls: in bookbinding, the boards and back, separate from the book: the frame in which a compositor has his types before him while at work.—v.t. to supply with a case.—n. Case′-bott′le, a bottle made to fit into a case with others.—v.t. Case′-hard′en, to convert the surface of certain kinds of malleable iron goods into steel, thereby making them harder, less liable to rust, and capable of taking on a better polish.—ns. Case′-hard′ening; Case′-knife, a large knife kept in a case; Case′maker, one who makes cases or covers for books; Case′ment, the case or frame of a window: a window that opens on hinges: a hollow moulding.—adj. Case′mented, having casements.—ns. Case′-shot, canister-shot, an artillery projectile for use at close quarters; Case′-worm, the caddice; Cas′ing, the act of the verb Case: an outside covering of any kind, as of boards, plaster, &c. [O. Fr. casse—L. capsa—capĕre, to take.]

  2. Case

    kās, n. that which falls or happens, event: particular state or condition—'in good case' = well off: subject of question or inquiry: an instance of disease: a person under medical treatment: a legal statement of facts: (gram.) the inflection of nouns, &c.—Case of conscience (see Conscience).—In any case, at all events: at any rate; In case, in the event that; In case to, in fit condition for; Make out one's case, to give good reasons for one's statements or position; Put the case, to suppose an instance: to take for example; The case, the fact, the reality. [O. Fr. cas—L. casus, from cadĕre, to fall.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

  1. case

    1. An intelligence operation in its entirety. 2. Record of the development of an intelligence operation, including personnel, modus operandi, and objectives.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. case

    The outside planking of the ship.

Editors Contribution

  1. caseverb

    0.) Approximately preceding a date or amount of time chartered with an account of judgement apart and without the earlier preposition and adverb of a liars accusations. 1.) An instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring. 2.) An instance of a disease or problem; a person or their particular problem requiring or receiving medical or welfare attention. 3.) A legal action, one to be decided in a court of law; a set of facts or arguments supporting one side in such a legal action. 4.) A container designed to hold or protect something; the outer protective covering of a natural or manufactured object. 5.) Each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet ma be written or printed. 6.) Reconnoiter a place before carrying out a robbery.

    Time is the best detective in a criminal case.

    Etymology: Syncing Art


    Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on October 18, 2023  

Suggested Resources

  1. case

    Song lyrics by case -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by case on the Lyrics.com website.

  2. CASE

    What does CASE stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the CASE acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. CASE

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Case is ranked #885 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Case surname appeared 39,319 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 13 would have the surname Case.

    92.3% or 36,303 total occurrences were White.
    2.1% or 849 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    2.1% or 834 total occurrences were Black.
    1.7% or 680 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    1% or 397 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
    0.6% or 256 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'case' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #185

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'case' in Written Corpus Frequency: #385

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'case' in Nouns Frequency: #15

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for case »

  1. Aces

  2. aces

  3. æsc

  4. ASCE

  5. ESCA

How to pronounce case?

How to say case in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of case in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of case in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of case in a Sentence

  1. Chief Eric Holt:

    The best-case scenario is pretty much what happened.

  2. Benjamin Weinthal:

    In fact, as is the case with Iranian Jews, Iranian Christians are constitutionally guaranteed parliamentary representation. Major cities such as Tehran and Isfahan are home to large Christian communities with centuries-old churches.

  3. Robert Levy:

    All the diagnostic tools available in the system were used in his case, it's a tragic circumstance ... but to start blaming the court system is crazy.

  4. Caleb Alexander:

    The FDA gets the respect that it does because it has regulatory standards that are based on firm evidence. In this case, I think they gave the product a pass.

  5. Associated Press:

    California is turning the page on this pandemic, thanks to swift action by the state and the work of Californians who followed public health guidelines and got vaccinated to protect themselves and their communities, with nearly 40 million vaccines administered and among the lowest case rates in the nation, we are lifting the orders that impact Californians on a day-to-day basis while remaining vigilant to protect public health and safety as the pandemic persists.

more sentences »

Popularity rank by frequency of use

case#1#287#10000

References

Translations for case

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • حَالاَتٌ, دَعْوَى, علبة, عُلَب, حالةArabic
  • осраҡ, ваҡиғаBashkir
  • дело, процес, случай, опаковам, витрина, калъф, кожух, куфар, сандъкBulgarian
  • maleta, cas, empaquetar, causa, caixa, capsa, vitrinaCatalan, Valencian
  • případ, kauza, pouzdro, bedna, vitrinaCzech
  • achosWelsh
  • kasseDanish
  • Fall, Kiste, Schriftkasten, ausbaldowern, Prozess, Rechtssache, einpacken, auskundschaften, Vitrine, Kasten, Hülle, Koffer, Behälter, GehäuseGerman
  • περιστατικό, περίβλημα, υπόθεση, περίσταση, περίπτωση, κρούσμα, προθήκη, αποσκευές, θήκη, βιτρίνα, βαλίτσα, κιβώτιο, κάσα, πλαίσιοGreek
  • kazoEsperanto
  • empaquetar, carcasa, caso, causa, estudiar el terreno, maleta, caja, vitrinaSpanish
  • مورد, کیسPersian
  • tutkia, aakkoslaji, laukku, tapaus, pakkaus, case, sijamuodot, pakata, oikeustapaus, kuori, kotelo, matkalaukku, vitriiniFinnish
  • fallFaroese
  • cas, casse, cause, vitrine, écrin, malle, caisse, carterFrench
  • cás, cásáilIrish
  • מקרה, תיקHebrew
  • kaHaitian Creole
  • eset, ügy, láda, házHungarian
  • դուրճ, դատական գործ, դեպք, պատյան, արկղ, ճամպրուկArmenian
  • kasusIndonesian
  • fallIcelandic
  • custodia, caso, vetrinetta, causa, cassa, cabinet, cassetta, involucro, baule, contenitore, intelaiatura, valigiaItalian
  • ケース, 事件, 格, 箱, スーツケースJapanese
  • საქმეGeorgian
  • 경우, 상자Korean
  • casus, causaLatin
  • tranga, zava-nitrangaMalagasy
  • процес, ча́нта, судско дело, случај, ку́тија, са́ндак, витрина, ку́ферMacedonian
  • kast, proces, geval, rechtszaak, uitstalraam, valies, kist, vitrine, tas, omhulselDutch
  • kiste, sakNorwegian
  • wydarzenie, przypadek, skrzyniaPolish
  • caso, causa, caixa, mostruário, mala, vitrine, maletaPortuguese
  • cazuri, caz, ladăRomanian
  • витрина, случай, я́щик, процесс, дело, упаковывать, судебное дело, кейс, набо́рная ка́сса, футля́р, кофр, ко́жух, коро́бка, диплома́т, чемода́нRussian
  • slučaj, sanduk, случај, кућиште, кофер, kofer, gajba, сандук, kućišteSerbo-Croatian
  • debnaSlovak
  • primerSlovene
  • fall, box, kåpa, lår, hus, apparathölje, skal, vitrinskåp, hölje, monter, huv, resväska, lådaSwedish
  • kesiSwahili
  • kasoTagalog
  • скриняUkrainian
  • معاملہUrdu
  • פאַלYiddish
  • 案Chinese

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    an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles
    A profaneness
    B rung
    C tithe
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