v. & n.
v. 1 tr. pursue in order to catch. 2 tr. (foll. by from, out of, to, etc.) drive. 3 intr. a (foll. by after) hurry in pursuit of (a person). b (foll. by round etc.) colloq. act or move about hurriedly. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by up) colloq. pursue (overdue work, payment, etc. or the person responsible for it). 5 tr. colloq. a try to attain. b court persistently and openly.
n. 1 pursuit. 2 unenclosed hunting-land. 3 (prec. by the) hunting, esp. as a sport. 4 an animal etc. that is pursued. 5 = STEEPLECHASE. go and chase oneself (usu. in imper.) colloq. depart.
[ ME f. OF chace chacier, ult. f. L capere take ]