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Pursue vs Chase - What's the difference?

pursue | chase |

Chase is a synonym of pursue.



In transitive terms the difference between pursue and chase

is that pursue is to participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession) while chase is to decorate (metal) by engraving or embossing.

As verbs the difference between pursue and chase

is that pursue is to follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment while chase is to pursue, to follow at speed.

As a noun chase is

the act of one who chases another; a pursuit.

As a proper noun Chase is

{{surname|from=nicknames}} from a Middle English nickname for a hunter.

pursue

English

Verb

(pursu)
  • (obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
  • To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
  • * Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
  • The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued' me, they shall ' pursue you also.
  • * 2009 , Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian , 15 Sep 09:
  • He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
  • To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
  • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
  • * 2009 , Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian , 1 Dec 09:
  • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).
  • See also

    * follow * chase

    chase

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) chacier, from captio. Akin to catch.

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of one who chases another; a pursuit.
  • A hunt.
  • (uncountable) A children's game where one player chases another.
  • * 1996 , Marla Pender McGhee, Quick & Fun Learning Activities for 1 Year Olds (page 25)
  • Some children like to be caught when playing chase , and others do not.
  • * 2009 , Martin J. Levin, We Were Relentless: A Family's Journey to Overcome Disability (page 41)
  • So we played chase up and down the concourses of the airport.
  • (British) A large country estate where game may be shot or hunted.
  • Anything being chased, especially a vessel in time of war.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase , / For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
  • (nautical) Any of the guns that fire directly ahead or astern; either a bow chase or stern chase.
  • (real tennis) The occurrence of a second bounce by the ball in certain areas of the court, giving the server the chance, later in the game, to "play off" the chase from the receiving end and possibly win the point.
  • (real tennis) A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive the ball in order to gain a point.
  • Derived terms
    * cut to the chase * wild-goose chase

    Verb

    (chas)
  • To pursue, to follow at speed.
  • To hunt.
  • To give chase; to hunt.
  • to chase around after a doctor
  • (nautical) To pursue a vessel in order to destroy, capture or interrogate her.
  • To dilute alcohol.
  • Chase vodka with orange juice to make a screwdriver.
  • (cricket) To attempt to win by scoring the required number of runs in the final innings.
  • Australia will be chasing 217 for victory on the final day.
  • (baseball) To swing at a pitch outside of the strike zone, typically an outside pitch
  • Jones chases one out of the zone for strike two.
  • (baseball) To produce enough offense to cause the pitcher to be removed
  • The rally chased the starter.
    Synonyms
    * pursue
    Derived terms
    * chase after * chase one's tail * chase rainbows * chase the dragon
    See also
    * follow

    Etymology 2

    Perhaps from (etyl) , from (etyl) chasse, from (etyl) capsa.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (printing) A rectangular steel or iron frame into which pages or columns of type are locked for printing or plate making.
  • Etymology 3

    Possibly from obsolete French , from (etyl), from Latin capsa, box. V., variant of “enchase”.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A groove cut in an object; a slot: the chase for the quarrel on a crossbow.
  • (architecture) A trench or channel for drainpipes or wiring; an hollow space in the wall of a building containing ventilation ducts, chimney flues, wires, cables or plumbing.
  • The part of a gun in front of the trunnions.
  • The cavity of a mold.
  • (shipbuilding) A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush joint by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of clinker-built boats.
  • Verb

    (chas)
  • To groove; indent.
  • To cut (the thread of a screw).
  • To decorate (metal) by engraving or embossing.