catalog

1 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​log ˈka-tə-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or catalogue

1

: list, register

a catalog of the band's songs

2

a

: a complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details

a catalog of the company's products

b

: a pamphlet or book that contains such a list

a mail-order catalog

a university catalog

c

: material in such a list

catalog

2 of 2

verb

variants or catalogue

cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing

transitive verb

1

: to make a catalog of

catalog a collection of books

2

a

: to enter in a catalog

b

: to classify (something, such as books or information) descriptively

Scientific monographs are cataloged into a database that will be available to researchers.

intransitive verb

1

: to make or work on a catalog

2

: to become listed in a catalog at a specified price

this stamp catalogs at $2

cataloger noun

or cataloguer

Synonyms

Noun

• canon
• checklist
• list
• listing
• menu
• register
• registry
• roll
• roll call
• roster
• schedule
• table

Verb

• enroll
• enrol
• enter
• index
• inscribe
• list
• put down
• record
• register
• schedule
• slate

Examples of catalog in a Sentence

Noun

The band played many songs from their catalog of hits.

a catalog of music album titles

Verb

They use the computer to catalog books.

The chart catalogs the results of each test.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And a catalog of such objects could be valuable for planetary defense models assessing the impact risk of near-Earth objects, scientists say, as the models currently do not consider lunar ejecta as a potential source of near-Earth asteroids. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025

But the premise of incorporating an extremely controversial — even frightening — sphere of technology into a catalog as globally cherished as the Beatles’ initially left some fans unnerved. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Verb

In addition to cataloging $4.5 million of existing equipment, the report also listed requests for $360,000 of new equipment, including 18 M4-89 rifles for the department’s SWAT team. —Samson Zhang, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

The trove has been cataloged and will now undergo restoration before being publicly displayed later this year. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cathaloge, cateloge, from Middle French catalogue, from Late Latin catalogus, from Greek katalogos, from katalegein to list, enumerate, from kata- + legein to gather, speak — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing catalog

• card catalog
• mail-order catalog

Kids Definition

catalog

1 of 2 noun

cat·​a·​log

variants or catalogue

ˈkat-ᵊl-ˌȯg 

-ˌäg

1

: a list of names, titles, or articles arranged according to a system

2

: a book or file containing a catalog

catalog

2 of 2 verb

variants or catalogue

cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing

1

: to make a catalog of

2

: to enter in a catalog

catalog books

cataloger noun

or cataloguer

-ˈȯ-gər,

-ˈä-gər