case
I. case1 (kās)n. 1. An instance of something; an occurrence; an example: a case of mistaken identity. See Synonyms at example. 2. An occurrence of a disease or disorder: a mild case of flu. 3. A set of circumstances or a state of affairs; a situation: It may rain, in which case the hike will be canceled. 4. Actual fact; reality: We suspected the walls were hollow, and this proved to be the case. 5. A question or problem; a matter: It is simply a case of honor. 6. A situation that requires investigation, especially by a formal or official body. 7. Law. a. An action or a suit or just grounds for an action. b. The facts or evidence offered in support of a claim. 8. A set of reasons or supporting facts; an argument: presented a good case for changing the law. 9. A person being assisted, treated, or studied, as by a physician, lawyer, or social worker. 10. Informal. A peculiar or eccentric person; a character. 11. Linguistics. a. In traditional grammar, a distinct form of a noun, pronoun, or modifier that is used to express one or more particular syntactic relationships to other words in a sentence. b. Case In some varieties of generative grammar, the thematic or semantic role of a noun phrase as represented abstractly but not necessarily indicated overtly in surface structure. In such frameworks, nouns in English have Case even in the absence of inflectional case endings.Idioms:in any case Regardless of what has occurred or will occur.in case 1. If it happens that; if. 2. As a precaution: took along an umbrella, just in case.in case of If there should happen to be: a number to call in case of emergency.off (someone's) case No longer nagging or urging someone to do something.on (someone's) case Persistently nagging or urging someone to do something. [Middle English cas, from Old French, from Latin cāsus, from past participle of cadere, to fall. See kad- in Indo-European Roots.] II. case2 (kās)n. 1. A container; a receptacle: a jewelry case; meat-filled cases of dough. 2. A container with its contents. 3. A decorative or protective covering or cover. 4. A set or pair: a case of pistols. 5. The frame or framework of a window, door, or stairway. 6. The surface or outer layer of a metal alloy. 7. Printing. A shallow compartmented tray for storing type or type matrices.tr.v. cased, cas·ing, cas·es 1. To put into or cover with a case; encase. 2. Slang. To examine carefully, as in planning a crime: cased the bank before robbing it. [Middle English, from Norman French casse, from Latin capsa.]
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