A catcher is the baseball player who crouches behind home plate and catches pitches that the batter doesn't hit. The catcher wears special protective gear: a mask, chest protector, and shin guards, because baseballs come flying at them all game long. They use a thick, padded mitt that's different from other players' gloves.

The catcher has many important responsibilities. They signal to the pitcher which type of pitch to throw, they throw to bases to stop runners from stealing, and they guard home plate when runners try to score. Many people consider the catcher the smartest player on the field because they need to know every player's strengths and weaknesses, understand strategy, and stay focused every single pitch.

The word also describes anyone or anything that catches. A dream catcher is a Native American craft that is said to catch bad dreams in its web. A dogcatcher is someone whose job involves catching stray dogs. When something is a real eye-catcher, it catches your attention right away.