catchup

A child squeezes catchup onto a hot dog.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sauce: "catchup" is a variant spelling of "ketchup," a thick, spicy sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices, used as a condiment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He put some catchup on his hot dog. (He added tomato-based sauce to his food.)
  • The bottle of catchup was almost empty. (The container of the condiment was nearly used up.)

Advanced Usage

• "Catchup" is an alternate spelling of "ketchup" and is less common in modern English. It is sometimes used in informal contexts or older texts.
  • The recipe calls for a tablespoon of catchup. (The cooking instruction requires the tomato sauce.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ketchup (n): the standard modern spelling of the same condiment.
  • She prefers ketchup on her fries. (She likes the tomato sauce on her fried potatoes.)

Synonyms

• Tomato sauce: a general term for any sauce made from tomatoes, though catchup/ketchup is a specific type.
• Condiment: a substance used to add flavor to food.

Related Idioms

• Catch up (not directly related to the condiment): a separate verb phrase meaning to reach the same level or standard as others.