Definition
To catch or grab something that is moving, or to get an illness.
Example
Le chien a attrapé la balle dans l'air.
Show translation
The dog caught the ball in the air.
Etymology
From Old French *atraper*, from *a-* (to) + *trape* (trap, snare), itself from Frankish *trappa* (a trap). The same Germanic root gives English "trap." The verb thus originally meant "to ensnare," and broadened over time to any act of catching.
Cultural note
*Attraper* is a wonderfully versatile everyday verb. French speakers use it to catch a ball, catch a bus (*attraper le bus*), catch a cold (*attraper un rhume*), or even catch someone in a lie (*attraper quelqu'un en flagrant délit*). Don't confuse it with *capturer*, which is reserved for more formal or dramatic captures (fugitives, wild animals).