CASE


Meaning of CASE in English

/ keɪs; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

SITUATION

1.

[ C ] a particular situation or a situation of a particular type :

In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.

The company only dismisses its employees in cases of gross misconduct.

It's a classic case (= a very typical case) of bad planning.

—see also worst-case ➡ note at example , situation

2.

the case [ sing. ] case (that ... ) the true situation :

If that is the case (= if the situation described is true) , we need more staff.

It is simply not the case that prison conditions are improving.

3.

[ C , usually sing. ] a situation that relates to a particular person or thing :

In your case, we are prepared to be lenient.

I cannot make an exception in your case (= for you and not for others) .

➡ note at example

POLICE INVESTIGATION

4.

[ C ] a matter that is being officially investigated, especially by the police :

a murder case

a case of theft

IN COURT

5.

[ C ] a question to be decided in court :

The case will be heard next week.

a court case

to win / lose a case

—see also test case

ARGUMENTS

6.

[ C , usually sing. ] case (for / against sth) a set of facts or arguments that support one side in a trial, a discussion, etc. :

the case for the defence / prosecution

Our lawyer didn't think we had a case (= had enough good arguments to win in a court of law) .

the case for / against private education

The report makes out a strong case (= gives good arguments) for spending more money on hospitals.

You will each be given the chance to state your case .

CONTAINER

7.

[ C ] (often in compounds) a container or covering used to protect or store things; a container with its contents or the amount that it contains :

a pencil case

a jewellery case

a packing case (= a large wooden box for packing things in)

The museum was full of stuffed animals in glass cases.

a case (= 12 bottles) of champagne

—picture at grandfather clock

—see also vanity case

8.

[ C ] = suitcase :

Let me carry your case for you.

OF DISEASE

9.

[ C ] the fact of sb having a disease or an injury; a person suffering from a disease or an injury :

a severe case of typhoid

The most serious cases were treated at the scene of the accident.

PERSON

10.

[ C ] a person who needs, or is thought to need, special treatment or attention :

He's a hopeless case.

GRAMMAR

11.

[ C , U ] the form of a noun, an adjective or a pronoun in some languages, that shows its relationship to another word :

the nominative / accusative / genitive case

Latin nouns have case, number and gender.

IDIOMS

- as the case may be

- be on sb's case

- be on the case

- get off my case

- a case in point

- in any case

- (just) in case ( ... )

- in case of sth

- in that case

—more at rest verb

■ verb

[ vn ]

IDIOMS

- case the joint

••

WORD ORIGIN

noun senses 1 to 6 and noun senses 9 to 11 Middle English : from Old French cas , from Latin casus fall, related to cadere to fall; in sense 11 directly from Latin , translating Greek ptōsis , literally fall.

noun senses 7 to 8 and verb late Middle English : from Old French casse , chasse (modern caisse trunk, chest, châsse reliquary, frame), from Latin capsa , related to capere to hold.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.