catnap
/'kætnæp/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A very short, light period of sleep, often taken during the day while sitting or reclining but not necessarily in a bed.
Verb:
- To sleep lightly and briefly, especially during the daytime.
Usage
- As a Noun: Used to describe the short sleep itself.
- As a Verb: Used to describe the action of taking a brief sleep. It is an intransitive verb (does not take a direct object).
Examples
Noun:
- I felt refreshed after a quick catnap in the armchair.
- He managed to sneak in a catnap during his afternoon break.
Verb:
- She decided to catnap on the sofa for twenty minutes before dinner.
- If you're feeling tired, you should catnap instead of drinking more coffee.
Advanced Usage
- "to have/take a catnap": This is the most common collocation when using the word as a noun.
- The pilot took a catnap in the cockpit during the long layover.
- The verb form is less common than the noun form and often implies an informal, unplanned short sleep.
Variants and Related Words
- Nap (noun/verb): A more general and common term for a short sleep. A "catnap" is typically even shorter and lighter than a "nap."
- Siesta (noun): A longer, scheduled afternoon rest or nap, often associated with certain cultures.
- Snooze (noun/verb, informal): A short, light sleep.
- Forty winks (noun phrase, informal): A humorous idiom for a short nap.
Synonyms
- Noun: Nap, snooze, doze, rest, forty winks.
- Verb: Nap, snooze, doze, rest, drowse.
Related Phrases
- Power nap: A very short nap (often 10-20 minutes) intended to quickly restore alertness.
- A 15-minute power nap can boost your productivity for the rest of the day.
- Catch some Z's (idiom, informal): To get some sleep.
- I'm going to catch some Z's before the party tonight.
Noun
- sleeping for a short period of time (usually not in bed)
Verb
- take a siesta
- She naps everyday after lunch for an hour