case¹ / kās/ • n. 1. an instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring: a case of mistaken identity. ∎  [usu. in sing.] the situation affecting or relating to a particular person or thing; one's circumstances or position: I'll make an exception in your case. ∎  an incident or set of circumstances under police investigation: a murder case.2. an instance of a disease, or problem: 200,000 cases of hepatitis B. ∎  a person suffering from a disease or injury: most breast cancer cases were older women. ∎  the circumstances or particular problem of a person who requires or receives professional attention: the welfare office discussed Gerald's case ∎  inf. a person whose situation is regarded as pitiable or as having no chance of improvement: Vicky was a very sad case. ∎ inf., dated an amusing or eccentric person.3. a legal action, esp. one to be decided in a court of law: a former employee brought the case against the council. ∎  a set of facts or arguments supporting one side in such a legal action: the case for the defense. ∎  a legal action that has been decided and may be cited as a precedent. ∎  a set of facts or arguments supporting one side of a debate or controversy: the case against tobacco advertising.4. Gram. any of the inflected forms of a noun, adjective, or pronoun that express the semantic relation of the word to other words in the sentence: the accusative case. ∎  such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not: English normally expresses case by the use of prepositions.PHRASES: as the case may be according to the circumstances (used when referring to two or more possible alternatives): the authorities will decide if they are satisfied or not satisfied, as the case may be.be the case be so.in any case whatever happens or may have happened. ∎  used to confirm or support a point or idea just mentioned: he wasn't allowed out yet, and in any case he wasn't well enough. (just) in case1. as a provision against something happening or being true: we put on thick sweaters, in case it was cold.2. if it is true that: in case you haven't figured it out, let me explain.in case of in the event of (a particular situation): what to do in case of fire.in no case under no circumstances.in that case if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation: “I'm free this evening.” “In that case, why not have dinner with me?”on someone's case inf. continually criticizing or harassing someone.case² • n. a container designed to hold or protect something: he placed the trumpet safely in its velvet-lined case. ∎  the outer protective covering of a natural or manufactured object: a seed case. ∎  an item of luggage; a suitcase. ∎  a box containing bottles or cans of a beverage, sold as a unit. ∎  Printing a partitioned container for loose metal type. ∎  each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed.See also uppercase, lowercase.• v. [tr.] (usu. be cased) 1. surround in a material or substance: the towers are of steel cased in granite. ∎  enclose in a protective container.2. inf. reconnoiter (a place) before carrying out a robbery: I was casing the joint.