Case

/keɪs/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A container or receptacle for holding something.
She put her glasses in a protective case.
A matter or situation under consideration.
The lawyer presented a strong case to the jury.
An instance of a particular situation.
In this case, we should consider alternative solutions.
A container for storing or carrying items, often having a cover.
He opened the suitcase to pack for his trip.
The form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective which shows its grammatical function.
In Latin, nouns have different cases, such as nominative and accusative.
verb
To cover or enclose something.
They decided to case the new electronics in protective plastic.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old French 'cas', from Latin 'casus', meaning 'fall, chance'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

case in point
an example that illustrates a situation or argument.
make a case
to present a persuasive argument.
the case for
the reasons or arguments supporting something.
case by case
evaluating each situation individually.
no case
indicating that there is no evidence or grounds for something.

Related Words

casework
The work of social workers in helping clients with their individual cases.
case study
A detailed analysis of a person, group, event, or situation.
case law
Law established by the outcome of former court cases.
case management
A collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates the options and services required to meet a client's health needs.

Slang Meanings

Big case
That was a big case, but we got it solved.
Case closed
With the new evidence, the detective said the case is closed.