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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