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to catnap

to catnap

1 4.4
To sleep for a short time during the day not in bed
  • verb
  • /ˈkætˌnæp/
translation icon : siestear
  • Often she stays up all night trying to work on her poems, so that she often catnaps during her weekly poetry workshop at Northampton Community College and wakes in chills of sweaty guilt about how little she's able to give her students.

Examples

  • If I have a moment to spare, I like to catnap on the couch to recharge my energy.

  • I catnap to store up, night and day.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • You kind of, you know, catnap with your dogs, but there's just too much to be done.

  • She could catnap anywhere, and though this was sometimes embarrassing, it meant, at least, that she stopped talking, and Lucilla and Jeff had learned to be grateful for these respites.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • During my lunch break, I often catnap to feel refreshed for the afternoon ahead.

  • She found a quiet corner at the park where she could catnap undisturbed for a little while.

Synonyms

to go to sleep
vsto catnap
369 1.0

To stop being awake and rest with your eyes closed

is a short daytime sleep rather than the general act of starting sleep
to doze
vsto catnap
43 2.3

To sleep lightly for a short time without meaning to

is focused specifically on a short daytime light sleep rather than general light sleep
to drift off
vsto catnap
23 3.8

To slowly fall asleep without meaning to

is a brief daytime sleep usually planned rather than accidental
to nap
vsto catnap
23 1.0

To sleep for a short time during the day

is the very short, light daytime sleep form of this action
to slumber
vsto catnap
15 3.8

To sleep lightly or peacefully

is a brief, light daytime sleep rather than a peaceful longer sleep
to nod off
vsto catnap
  • Informal
12 4.1

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

is the short planned daytime rest rather than an unplanned doze
to drowse
vsto catnap
2 6.1

To be half asleep for a short time

is a short daytime rest done intentionally rather than just half sleeping
to nod out
vsto catnap
  • Informal
2 7.9

To fall asleep by accident because you are very tired

is a short light daytime rest, not usually caused by exhaustion
to catch some Z's
vsto catnap
  • Informal
2 7.9

To sleep to get some rest

is the specifically short daytime form of getting quick rest
to catch a wink
vsto catnap
1 5.5

To sleep for a short time, often during the day

is the same idea but emphasizes a very quick daytime rest
to kip
vsto catnap
  • UK
8.1

To sleep for a short time, often on a sofa

is the same short daytime rest but usually more brief and light
to drowse off
vsto catnap
5.5

To begin to fall asleep without meaning to

is a short daytime sleep often taken on purpose rather than accidental

Antonyms

24 3.0

To stop someone from sleeping by making them stay awake

How Long

to sleep
1.0
to nap
23 1.0
to doze
43 2.3
to catnap
1 4.4

Surface Forms

catnap infinitive
catnapped past
catnapped past participle
catnapping present participle
catnaps third person singular

Morphology

catnap = catnap (semi-transparent) = cat + nap

The word is built from the familiar elements 'cat' and 'nap', but the specific sense of a light, brief sleep is partly metaphorical rather than fully literal.

Etymology

Catnap as a verb comes from the same idea, cat + nap, and the image of a cat's quick doze helps you remember it. So to catnap is 'to take a short, light sleep', often to rest for a few minutes.