n.
Function: verb
Inflected Form: chased ; chas · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French chacer, from Vulgar Latin *captiare ― more at CATCH
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to follow rapidly : PURSUE b : HUNT c : to follow regularly or persistently with the intention of attracting or alluring
2 obsolete : HARASS
3 : to seek out ― often used with down <detectives chasing down clues>
4 : to cause to depart or flee : DRIVE < chase the dog out of the garden>
5 : to cause the removal of (a baseball pitcher) by a batting rally
6 : to swing at (a baseball pitched out of the strike zone)
intransitive verb
1 : to chase an animal, person, or thing < chase after material possessions>
2 : RUSH , HASTEN < chased all over town looking for a place to stay>
synonyms CHASE , PURSUE , FOLLOW , TRAIL mean to go after or on the track of something or someone. CHASE implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running <a dog chasing a cat>. PURSUE suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain < pursued the criminal through narrow streets>. FOLLOW puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake <friends followed me home in their car>. TRAIL may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object < trail deer> < trailed a suspect across the country>.