What does "kata" mean?
Any of a sequence of positions and movements used in many martial arts.
Kata
/ˈkætə/ adv, noun
adv, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of a sequence of positions and movements used in many martial arts.
- Grammar: kata is listed as adv, noun.
- Usage evidence: About fifty kata, or "formal exercises," are practiced at the present time, some having been passed down from generation to generation, others having been developed fairly recently.
How to use "kata"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kata" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kata" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kata" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kata" is acting as adv, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of a sequence of positions and movements used in many martial arts.
"judo kata"
- 2 Ellipsis of kata thermometer. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 3 Alternative form of gata (“type of Armenian pastry”). alt-of, alternative
- 4 A short programming exercise to improve one's skills through practice and repetition. broadly
"These kata will give you the C# syntax for inheritance."
- 5 A drop (in temperature). in-compounds
"kata factor"
Adverb
- 1 In a direction analogous to down, but along the additional axis added by the fourth dimension.
"Your right half would move ana, let us say, and your left half would move kata. The two halves would, in their parallel spaces, move past the plane of rotation, and then they would swing back into our space."
Example
"About fifty kata, or "formal exercises," are practiced at the present time, some having been passed down from generation to generation, others having been developed fairly recently."
Common questions
How do you use "kata" in a sentence?
About fifty kata, or "formal exercises," are practiced at the present time, some having been passed down from generation to generation, others having been developed fairly recently.
How do you pronounce "kata"?
Pronounced /ˈkætə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Japanese 型 (literally “pattern, model”). In English use since the 1950s.
Etymology 2
From Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “downwards”). Compare cata-.