case

I UK [keɪs] / US noun
Word forms "case":
singular case plural cases
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1) [countable] an example or instance of something

case of:

a serious case of nerves

a) an instance of a disease

case of:

a bad case of food poisoning

b) a person with a disease

He treated several cases of severe sunburn.

2) [countable, usually singular] a situation or set of conditions, especially one involving a particular person or thing

I think we can make an exception in your case.

be the case:

This was the case in the past, but now life is different.

if that's the case:

If that's the case, I'm not surprised he was angry.

it is the case that:

Isn't it the case that they're afraid of change?

it's a case of:

It really is a case of "no news is good news".

in that case:

"I don't need it tonight." "In that case, I'll keep it until tomorrow."

in which case:

They can still agree to our conditions, in which case the bombing will stop.

as is the case:

Often, as is the case for these families, there is no other source of support.

3) [countable] a legal matter that will be decided in a court

a civil/criminal case

The case involved charges of police corruption.

a murder/rape/libel case:

A number of libel cases were taken to the Court of Appeal.

case against:

He was confident the case against him would be dropped.

win/lose a case:

He would do anything to win a case.

a) a crime that the police are trying to solve

At least a dozen officers are investigating the murder case.

b) the evidence and arguments that one side can use against the other in a law court

the case for the prosecution/the defence:

Mr Scott informed the judge that he had completed the case for the prosecution.

have a case (= have a chance of winning):

The lawyers told me I didn't have a case.

4) [countable] a set of facts and arguments that you can state for or against something

This strengthens the case of those who argue that the UK should have a Bill of Rights.

case for/against:

There is a strong case for government intervention.

state your case:

She was being offered a chance to state her case.

make (out) a case for something:

Calvin makes a good case for this unpopular policy in his article.

A case can be made for reducing taxes right now.

5) [countable] a situation or person to be dealt with, often by an official

There have been several reports of cases of neglected and abused children.

Each social worker was assigned 30 cases.

6) [countable] a container or cover for keeping or protecting something

Have you seen my glasses' case anywhere?

The paintings were shipped in large wooden cases.

a) a piece of furniture made of wood and glass in which objects are shown in a shop or museum

b) a container for holding a large number of separate things, especially bottles, or the things in the container

case of:

We bought a case of wine.

c) a suitcase

7) [countable/uncountable] linguistics a form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun in some languages that shows its relationship in grammar to other words in a sentence

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- as the case may be

- a case in point

- get off someone's case

- in any case

- in case

- on a case by case basis

- on someone's case

- on the case

II UK [keɪs] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "case":
present tense I/you/we/they case he/she/it cases present participle casing past tense cased past participle cased very informal

if a criminal cases a place, such as a bank, they watch it and look around it to help them plan their crime

He saw McVeigh casing the Oklahoma City federal building before it was bombed.

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- be cased in something