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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cap en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • [kʰɛp] (New-Zealand)
  • [kʰap] (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kɛp/ (New-Zealand)
  • /kap/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kæp/ (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • (US) audio
  • [kʰæp] (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Etymology tree substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap-? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput Proto-Italic *kaput Latin caput Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulum Latin capitulum Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Latin -āre Latin capitulāre? Late Latin cappabor. Proto-West Germanic *kappā Proto-West Germanic *kappijā Old English cæppe Middle English cappe English cap Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput. Doublet of cape, chape, and cope.

Meanings

  1. A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.
    • The children were all wearing caps to protect them from the sun.
    • That elf-maiden smote with her hand so white, “Sorrow and sickness on thee alight” That elf-maiden smote with her cap so small, “No more shall priest's benison on thee fall!” 1847 September 11, William J. Thoms, “The Folk-lore of Shakespeare”, in The Athenaeum, London, page 958, column 1:
  2. A special hat to indicate rank, occupation, etc.
  3. An academic mortarboard.
  4. A protective cover or seal.
    • He took the cap off the bottle and splashed himself with some cologne.
  5. A crown for covering a tooth.
    • He had golden caps on his teeth.
  6. The summit of a mountain, etc.
    • There was snow on the cap of the mountain.
  7. An artificial upper limit or ceiling.
    • The G7 countries have agreed to impose a price cap on Russian oil in an attempt to stem the flow of funds into the Kremlin’s war coffers. […] The level of the cap is still being discussed. 2022 September 2, Alex Lawson, “G7 countries agree plan to impose price cap on Russian oil”, in The Guardian:
    • We should put a cap on the salaries, to keep them under control.
  8. The top part of a mushroom.
  9. (qualifier:toy) A small amount of percussive explosive in a paper strip or plastic cup for use in a toy gun.
    • Billy spent all morning firing caps with his friends, re-enacting storming the beach at Normandy.
  10. A small explosive device used to detonate a larger charge of explosives.
    • He wired the cap to the bundle of dynamite, then detonated it remotely.
  11. (slang) A bullet used to shoot someone.
    • Did he think they were going to put a cap in his ass right in the middle of Metreon? 2001, Charles Jade, Jade goes to Metreon:
  12. (slang) A lie or exaggeration.
    • that’s cap
    • no cap
  13. A place on a national team; an international appearance.
    • "By the way, are you by any chance the Malone who is expected to get his Rugby cap for Ireland?" "A reserve, perhaps." 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
    • Overall, though, England’s injury-diminished side coped well on the night when Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jordan Pickford and Tammy Abraham all won their first caps. 2017 November 10, Daniel Taylor, “Youthful England earn draw with Germany but Lingard rues late miss”, in The Guardian (London):
    • Rio Ferdinand won his 50th cap for England in a game against Sweden.
  14. (obsolete) The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
    • Thou art the Cap / Of all the Fooles aliue. c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 93, column 2:
  15. (obsolete) A respectful uncovering of the head.
    • He that will give a cap and make a leg, in thanks for a favour he never received, deserveth rather to be blamed for want of wit, than to be praised for store of manners. 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, from the Birth of Jesus Christ until the Year MDCXLVIII, volume 1, London: Thomas Tegg and Son, published 1837, page 9:
  16. The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck.
  17. The uppermost of any assemblage of parts.
    • the cap of a column, door, etc.; a capital, coping, cornice, lintel, or plate
  18. Something covering the top or end of a thing for protection or ornament.
  19. A collar of iron or wood used in joining spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the end of a rope.
  20. A portion of a spherical or other convex surface.
  21. A large size of writing paper.
    • flat cap; foolscap; legal cap
  22. (Appalachia) Popcorn.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
caps Number=Plur lexicographic
🧢 alternative lexicographic

Antonyms

floor

Deriveds

friar's cap (head covering) · shingle cap (head covering) · bottle cap (protective cover or seal) · jockey's cap (other species) · Snoopy cap (head covering) · legal cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · offcap (head covering) · widow's cap (head covering) · black cap (head covering) · deerslayer cap (head covering) · inkcap (names of mushrooms) · bouffant cap (head covering) · milk-cap (names of mushrooms) · blackccap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · polar cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · ribeye cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · cap cloud (something covering the top or end of a thing) · cornercap (head covering) · huffcap (head covering) · China cap (head covering) · cap product (something covering the top or end of a thing) · windcap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Phrygian cap (head covering) · ugly milk-cap (names of mushrooms) · pull-off cap (protective cover or seal) · Monmouth Cap (general terms) · ballcap (head covering) · cradle cap (head) · nose cap (head covering) · distributor cap (protective cover or seal) · toecap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · flat cap (head covering) · whitecapper (head covering) · cap over the windmill (head covering) · priestcap (head covering) · capsheaf (something covering the top or end of a thing) · patrol cap (head covering) · caplet (artificial upper limit) · knit cap (head covering) · Noddy cap (protective cover or seal) · capless (general terms) · cap and trade (artificial upper limit) · ski cap (head covering) · level cap (artificial upper limit) · uncapped (general terms) · eyecap (protective cover or seal) · snap cap (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · fur cap (head covering) · endcap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · dental cap (protective cover or seal) · cap and gown (head covering) · cloth cap (head covering) · bump cap (head covering) · cap nut (something covering the top or end of a thing) · panther cap (names of mushrooms) · interest rate cap (artificial upper limit) · screw cap (protective cover or seal) · cap badge (head covering) · watermelon cap (head covering) · bloody milk cap (names of mushrooms) · crown cap (protective cover or seal) · lens cap (protective cover or seal) · cap sheet (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Scotch cap (head covering) · capsquare (something covering the top or end of a thing) · hand-in-cap (head covering) · percussion cap (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · capstone (something covering the top or end of a thing) · cap money (head covering) · feather in one's cap (head covering) · nanocap (general terms) · cunt cap (head covering) · trencher cap (head covering) · goosecap (general terms) · Breton cap (head covering) · capology (artificial upper limit) · suncap (head covering) · cap flashing (protective cover or seal) · waxy cap (names of mushrooms) · decap (general terms) · Turk's cap lily (other species) · spherical cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · lettice cap (head covering) · combination cap (head covering) · jimmy cap (protective cover or seal) · lounging cap (head covering) · skullcap (head covering) · swim cap (head covering) · gimme cap (head covering) · cap and bells (head covering) · half cap (head covering) · propeller cap (head covering) · Juliet cap (head covering) · root cap (protective cover or seal) · wig cap (head covering) · cap of liberty (head covering) · die cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · cap stealing (something covering the top or end of a thing) · ice cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · liberty cap (head covering) · face cap (head covering) · bald cap (head covering) · bathing cap (head covering) · cap-flap (head covering) · voting cap (artificial upper limit) · death cap (names of mushrooms) · watch cap (head covering) · scullcap (head covering) · sleep cap (head covering) · cap gun (toy) · fitted cap (head covering) · Turk's cap (other species) · ironcaps spider orchid (something covering the top or end of a thing) · powder cap (names of mushrooms) · priestcap (other species) · deerstalker cap (head covering) · skycap (head covering) · scrum cap (head covering) · petrol cap (protective cover or seal) · bow cap (protective cover or seal) · snowcap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · filler cap (protective cover or seal) · garrison cap (head covering) · swimming cap (head covering) · smoking cap (head covering) · capmaking (head covering) · gas cap (protective cover or seal) · blasting cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · whitecap (head covering) · baseball cap (head covering) · fore-and-aft cap (head covering) · nose cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Glengarry cap (head covering) · cap screw (something covering the top or end of a thing) · elf-cap moss (other species) · fuel cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · stocking cap (head covering) · swimcap (head covering) · field cap (head covering) · redcap (head covering) · caponomics (artificial upper limit) · Guardian Cap (head covering) · 5′ cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · aldercap (names of mushrooms) · cap in hand (head covering) · pop a cap in someone's ass (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · capmaker (head covering) · if the cap fits (head covering) · cap-apée (general terms) · Gandhi cap (head covering) · hunting cap (head covering) · forage cap (head covering) · keycap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Monmouth cap (head covering) · toboggan cap (head covering) · fuddlecap (head) · rally cap (head covering) · rastacap (head covering) · dowd cap (head covering) · sea cap (head covering) · nightcap (head covering) · muffin cap (head covering) · wishing cap (head covering) · turncap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · cap pistol (toy) · caplike (general terms) · furcap (head covering) · caprock (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Davy Crockett cap (head covering) · Congress cap (head covering) · waxcap (names of mushrooms) · longshoreman's cap (head covering) · elector's cap (head covering) · cross-cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · mudcap (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · mist cap (head covering) · inky cap (names of mushrooms) · madcap (head) · Mickey Mouse cap (head covering) · capful (general terms) · newsboy cap (head covering) · dewcap (protective cover or seal) · capstring (head covering) · dunsel cap (head covering) · shower cap (head covering) · kneecap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · rump cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · Dutch cap (head covering) · haycap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · fool's cap (head covering) · overseas cap (head covering) · side cap (head covering) · cap sleeve (something covering the top or end of a thing) · coon-skin cap (head covering) · thinking cap (head covering) · cap-a-pie (general terms) · cap of maintenance (head covering) · Fanny Murray cap (head covering) · monkey cap (head covering) · cap snatching (something covering the top or end of a thing) · webcap (names of mushrooms) · candy cap (names of mushrooms) · cap carbonate (something covering the top or end of a thing) · earcap (protective cover or seal) · cap and ball (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · Ascot cap (head covering) · cervical cap (protective cover or seal) · spike-cap (names of mushrooms) · bust a cap (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · dunce cap (head covering) · hubcap (protective cover or seal) · bluecap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · baggy green cap (head covering) · salary cap (artificial upper limit) · base cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · dust cap (protective cover or seal) · cold cap (head covering) · mob cap (head covering) · saffron milk cap (names of mushrooms) · throw one's cap over the windmill (head covering) · screwcap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · considering cap (head covering) · end cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · capcase (general terms) · service cap (head covering) · sirloin cap (something covering the top or end of a thing) · ratting cap (head covering) · Dutch cap (protective cover or seal)

Relateds

set one's cap at · lid

Translations (244)

fa کاسکت (head covering) · es gorra (head covering) · hu kupak (protective cover or seal) · pt quepe (head covering) · cs čepice (head covering) · fr casquette (head covering) · pl nakrętka (protective cover or seal) · pl kapelusz (head covering) · fr chapeau (academic mortarboard) · mns-nor ке̄нт (head covering) · ru писто́н (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · ar قُبَّعَة (head covering) · fr couronne (crown covering a tooth) · vo luhät (head covering) · alt калпак (head covering) · ka ქუდი (head covering) · scn màssimu (artificial upper limit) · fr cime (summit of a mountain) · it berretto (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · mr टोपण (protective cover or seal) · hsb měca (head covering) · ga caipín (head covering) · vi mũ lưỡi trai (head covering) · ru масли́на (bullet) · zh 帽子 (head covering) · ru верши́на (summit of a mountain) · fi maaottelu (soccer: international appearance) · ko(protective cover or seal) · ko 모자 (head covering) · hu orom (summit of a mountain) · sk čapica (head covering) · ko 뚜껑 (protective cover or seal) · scn crupecchiu (protective cover or seal) · izh kepka (head covering) · it cappuccio (protective cover or seal) · th เพดาน (artificial upper limit) · fi kansi (protective cover or seal) · grc πῖλος (head covering) · fr capsule (protective cover or seal) · ru шля́пка (top part of a mushroom) · ml അടപ്പ് (protective cover or seal) · it tappo (protective cover or seal) · af doppie (protective cover or seal) · no skyggelue (head covering) · pl czasza (portion of a sphere) · bg фуражка (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · ru кры́шечка (protective cover or seal) · ba башлыҡ (head covering) · sq plis (head covering) · hu csúcs (summit of a mountain) · km កាតឹប (head covering) · mnc ᠮᠠᡥᠠᠯᠠ (head covering) · gl chapa (protective cover or seal) · fr tuque (head covering) · gl piocha (head covering) · fi lakki (top part of a mushroom) · fr opercule (protective cover or seal) · hu négyszögletű kalap (academic mortarboard) · scn toccu (academic mortarboard) · gd ceap (head covering) · ml തൊപ്പി (head covering) · ja 頂上 (summit of a mountain) · qu p'acha chuku (head covering) · fi lakki (head covering) · scn punta (summit of a mountain) · pl występ w reprezentacji (soccer: international appearance) · scn còppula (top part of a mushroom) · pt barrete (head covering) · scn cuppuluni (head covering) · hu válogatottság (soccer: international appearance) · rup shapcã (head covering) · mi tingara (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · fr piléus (top part of a mushroom) · gl cachucha (head covering) · fi kruunu (crown covering a tooth) · fr mortier (academic mortarboard) · sv keps (head covering) · it chiusura (protective cover or seal) · scn pizzu (summit of a mountain) · ar قُبَّعة (head covering) · pt chapeleta (top part of a mushroom) · gl cufete (head covering) · lv cepure (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · it cappella (top part of a mushroom) · ca gorra (head covering) · tl gora (head covering) · ru коро́нка (crown covering a tooth) · it chiusura di sicurezza (protective cover or seal) · gl cume (summit of a mountain) · fr calotte (portion of a sphere) · he כובע (head covering) · pt convocação (soccer: international appearance) · scn cappeḍḍu (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · ru колпа́к (head covering) · fr tête (top part of a mushroom) · it capsula (crown covering a tooth) · mi kiapa (head covering) · mi tingara (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · hu maximum (artificial upper limit) · ja キャップ (head covering) · ru колпачо́к (protective cover or seal) · ru ограниче́ние (artificial upper limit) · fi korkki (protective cover or seal) · it berretta (head covering) · it tetto (artificial upper limit) · ka კეპი (head covering) · hu tető (protective cover or seal) · it cofia (head covering) · de Hut (top part of a mushroom) · gd ceap (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · ja 被せ (crown covering a tooth) · ja キャップ (protective cover or seal) · de Dienstmütze (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · hu plafon (artificial upper limit) · bg капак (protective cover or seal) · sv hatt (top part of a mushroom) · fr capuchon (protective cover or seal) · ga caidhp (head covering) · bg връх (summit of a mountain) · fr bouchon (protective cover or seal) · pl spłonka (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · fi katto (artificial upper limit) · fr plafond (artificial upper limit) · scn chiusura (protective cover or seal) · gl cadela (head covering) · fi lakki (academic mortarboard) · fr sommet (summit of a mountain) · it cappello (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · hi टोपी (head covering) · scn cummogghiu (protective cover or seal) · af kroon (crown covering a tooth) · izh hattu (head covering) · ru кэп (artificial upper limit) · pl czapka (head covering) · fi huippu (summit of a mountain) · ar كاب (head covering) · sw kofia (head covering) · pl kapiszon (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · ru фура́жка (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · ru карту́з (head covering) · ko(head covering) · it berretto (head covering) · li patsj (head covering) · ba ҡапҡас (protective cover or seal) · hu fedél (protective cover or seal) · ja(protective cover or seal) · pl limit (artificial upper limit) · ml മൂടി (protective cover or seal) · ckb کەڵاو (head covering) · war kalu (head covering) · scn còppula (head covering) · it cima (summit of a mountain) · gl sombreiro (top part of a mushroom) · gl moquelo (head covering) · th ฝา (protective cover or seal) · scn còppula (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · pt chapéu (top part of a mushroom) · zh 鴨舌帽 /鸭舌帽 (head covering) · mi kēpe (head covering) · ja 帽子 (head covering) · nrf castchette (head covering) · ru ка́псюль (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · fr bonnet (head covering) · es cachucha (head covering) · pt boné (head covering) · mr टोपी (head covering) · fi nalli (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · scn birritta (head covering) · es detonante (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · bg капа́к (head covering) · zh 太陽帽 /太阳帽 (head covering) · fi nalli (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · vi nón lưỡi trai (head covering) · gl monteira (head covering) · sq qeleshe (head covering) · it capsula (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · nl dop (protective cover or seal) · pl ograniczenie (artificial upper limit) · lld cazina (head covering) · oc gòrra (head covering) · it cappuccio (head covering) · ru ке́пка (head covering) · it corona (crown covering a tooth) · sl čepica (head covering) · gl pucha (head covering) · mk капа (head covering) · sv landskamp (soccer: international appearance) · ms puncak (summit of a mountain) · it coppa (protective cover or seal) · af pet (head covering) · scn tascu (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · th หมวกแก๊ป (head covering) · bg ша́пка (head covering) · sh капа (head covering) · pt píleo (top part of a mushroom) · ru ша́пка (head covering) · eo kaskedo (head covering) · bg гугла (top part of a mushroom) · lv cepure (head covering) · oj wiiwakwaan (head covering) · ngh kepsi ʘû (head covering) · hu limit (artificial upper limit) · hu sisak (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · hu sapka (head covering) · pl kapelusz (top part of a mushroom) · my ကက်ဦးထုပ် (head covering) · he מכסה (artificial upper limit) · io kasqueto (head covering) · hu kalap (top part of a mushroom) · de Mütze (head covering) · fr couvercle (protective cover or seal) · sh kapa (head covering) · de Obergrenze (artificial upper limit) · pl kulka (bullet) · nds Mütz (head covering) · fa کلاه (head covering) · zh 棒球帽 (head covering) · pl nakrycie głowy (head covering) · es fulminante (gunpowder charge for a toy gun) · it tocco (academic mortarboard) · af kappie (head covering) · it bustina (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · izh šaapka (head covering) · fr chapeau (top part of a mushroom) · fr carpophore (top part of a mushroom) · gl cima (summit of a mountain) · scn tettu (artificial upper limit) · scn cappeḍḍu (head covering) · sv mössa (head covering) · scn birritta (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · ota شاپقه (head covering) · es fulminante (small amount of explosive used as detonator) · eo ĉapo (head covering) · gl carapucha (head covering) · fi virkalakki (head-covering to indicate rank etc.) · bg коронка (crown covering a tooth) · ja かさ (top part of a mushroom) · ro căciulă (head covering) · nl pet (head covering) · alt бӧрӱк (head covering) · ru кры́шка (protective cover or seal) · hu tető (summit of a mountain) · ro șapcă (head covering) · it cuffia (head covering)

Source: en.wiktionary, “cap” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

cap en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • [kʰɛp] (New-Zealand)
  • [kʰap] (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kɛp/ (New-Zealand)
  • /kap/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kæp/ (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • (US) audio
  • [kʰæp] (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Etymology tree substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap-? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput Proto-Italic *kaput Latin caput Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulum Latin capitulum Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Latin -āre Latin capitulāre? Late Latin cappabor. Proto-West Germanic *kappā Proto-West Germanic *kappijā Old English cæppe Middle English cappe English cap Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput. Doublet of cape, chape, and cope.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To cover or seal with a cap.
  2. (transitive) To award a cap as a mark of distinction.
  3. (transitive) To lie over or on top of something.
  4. (broadly, slang, transitive) To lie over or on top of something. ▸ To paint over someone else's piece or tag.
  5. (transitive) To surpass or outdo.
  6. (transitive) To set (or reach) an upper limit on something.
    • It recalls the business case for Scotland's reopening of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, that British Rail closed in 1969. The review says the business case for this was at best borderline, but goes on to say that the case greatly underestimated passenger demand and that the railway Scotland built has capped its capacity. 2023 September 6, Philip Haigh, “£30 billion plan to transform the rail network in Ireland”, in RAIL, number 991, page 25:
    • to cap wages
  7. (figuratively, transitive) To conclude; to make something even more wonderful at the end.
    • Ms. Yaccarino’s exit caps a tumultuous period at X, which was previously called Twitter and has been remade in Mr. Musk’s image since he bought the platform for $44 billion in 2022. 2025 July 9, Mike Isaac, Kate Conger, “X CEO Linda Yaccarino Says She Is Leaving Elon Musk’s Platform”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
    • That really capped my day.
  8. (transitive) To select a player to play for a specified side.
  9. (slang, transitive) To shoot (someone) with a firearm.
    • In a school shooting, where some kid caps a bunch of other kids, where did he get the weapon? From a family member, probably their gun cabinet.
    • If he don’t get outta my hood, I’m gonna cap his ass.
  10. (intransitive, slang) To lie; to tell a lie.
    • "How? Didn’t I cap for you, an’ square you with the examinin’ board? Didn’t I stake you to the three hundred dollars?" 1906, Alfred Henry Lewis, “Confessions of a Detective”, in Confessions of a Detective, New York: A.S. Barnes & Company, page 36:
    • It’s over for you capping-ass rappers—get out the game / You can fool the record labels, but not the streets, man 2003, Antwan Patton et al., “Tomb of the Boom”, in Speakerboxxx, performed by OutKast:
  11. (transitive) To select to play for the national team.
    • Peter Shilton is the most capped English footballer.
  12. (obsolete, transitive) To salute by uncovering the head respectfully.
    • Indeed, as the astonished small boys "capped" him on his way to nine o'clock "absence," he wore an expression of delight bordering on playfulness, which, coming from one of such firm and commanding features, was immensely striking. 1909, William Hill Tucker, Eton Memories, page 128:
    • Tom never miſsed a lecture, and capped the proctor with the profoundeſt of bows. 1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “I Go to Cambridge, and Do But Little Good There”, in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. […] , volume I, London: […] Smith, Elder, & Company, […], →OCLC, page 231:
  13. To deprive of a cap.
    • As if one going to diſtrain upon his own Land or Tenement, where lawfully he may; yet if in doing thereof, he tranſgreſs the leaſt Point of the Common Law, he ſtraight committeth Felony. Or if one, by any other Occaſion, take any thing from another, as Boys uſe ſometimes to cap one another, the ſame is ſtraight Felony. 1596, Edmund Spenser, A View of the State of Ireland as It Was in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, Dublin: Laurence Flin, published 1763, page 50:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
caps Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
🧢 alternative lexicographic
capping Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
capped Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
capped Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

cap off · cap it off · cap on · recap · uncap · no cap · capper · outcap · cappable · capping plane

Synonyms

pop a cap in someone's ass

Translations (9)

mi whakapōtae (to award a cap as a mark of distinction) · fi korkittaa (to cover or seal with a cap) · fi ylittää (to surpass or outdo) · bg покривам (to cover or seal with a cap) · sv täcka (to lie over or on top of something) · fi kansittaa (to cover or seal with a cap) · mi pōtae (to cover or seal with a cap) · fi ohittaa (to surpass or outdo) · bg превъзхождам (to surpass or outdo)

Source: en.wiktionary, “cap” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

cap en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • [kʰɛp] (New-Zealand)
  • [kʰap] (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kɛp/ (New-Zealand)
  • /kap/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kæp/ (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • (US) audio
  • [kʰæp] (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Various clippings from longer words beginning with the three letters.

Meanings

  1. Capitalization.
  2. (informal) A capital letter.
  3. A capacitor.
    • parasitic caps
    • I had to replace the caps in that thing to get it to work again.
  4. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, colloquial) Clipping of capture; a recording or screenshot.
    alt of capture
    • Here's a cap of Jennifer from her latest Letterman appearance […] 1998 April 27, Johan [username], “Jennifer on Letterman”, in alt.fan.jen-aniston (Usenet), retrieved 07 Aug 2016:
    • Please be assured that when I do get around to capping the Brits, there will NOT be one single cap of that slutty bitch, her whorishness has dropped to even lower levels than before. 2000 March 4, RichieH [username], “Please somebody get a cap of Faye from steps at the Brits!!!!!!!!”, in alt.tv.shaggable.babes (Usenet):
    • If you have a cap of Gabby's bare butt from the "forget me not" episode please post or mail it... 1998 September 26, Mr Hanky [username] <meister_hanky@hotmail.com>, “req: does anyone have a cap of Gabby's behind from "Forget Me Not"”, in alt.tv.xena (Usenet), retrieved 07 Aug 2016:
    • Anyone have a cap of the games last night?
  5. (slang) A capsule of a drug.
    • Glass bottles of liquid LSD; moist blocks of Manali charras and Malana cream; sachets of smack; a hundred caps of MDMA and a phial of Australian DMT; ampoules of medical morphine and a dense pad of four thousand Californian blotters. 2012, Alex Wyndham Baker, Cursive:
  6. (colloquial) A capitalist.
  7. A capillary.
  8. A caption.
  9. (informal) A cappuccino.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
caps Number=Plur lexicographic
🧢 alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

cap table · anticap (capitalist) · midcap · small-cap · megacap · market cap · mo-cap (recording or screenshot) · an-cap (capitalist) · mega cap · microcap · small caps · endcap (caption) · large cap · cap up (capsule) · drop cap · cap refill (capillary) · capline · caplet (capsule)

Translations (3)

sv stor bokstav (informal: uppercase letter) · bg главна буква (informal: uppercase letter) · fi tikkukirjain (informal: uppercase letter)

Source: en.wiktionary, “cap” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

cap en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • [kʰɛp] (New-Zealand)
  • [kʰap] (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kɛp/ (New-Zealand)
  • /kap/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kæp/ (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • (US) audio
  • [kʰæp] (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Various clippings from longer words beginning with the three letters.

Meanings

  1. (informal, transitive) To convert text to uppercase.
  2. (transitive) To take a screenshot or to record a copy of a video.
    • Please tell me someone capped it!!!! 2002 June 11, test . com Ground Hog [username], alt.luser.recovery (Usenet):
    • If I had a method of capping from video tapes there's a movie that I can no longer remember the name of which has a single scene with Racquel and Derrick as a newly married couple having sex under the lustful eyes of Joey Silvera. 2003 February 18, jacuk [username], alt.fan.pornstar.darrian (Usenet):
    • I've capped in VCD format, so will eventually post it to abme (I've since found out that it's a bit OT for this group) 2001 December 3, Methos [username], alt.fan.televisionx (Usenet):
  3. (transitive) To capture an objective, such as a flag or checkpoint.
    • Call your friends and bring a gun / The Halo revolution's on / Capping flags and arming bombs / Yes, we don't blink until we're done 2007 November 20, Greg Haupt, “LvUrFR3NZ”, in Halo 3 Original Soundtrack, performed by Princeton, Sumthing Else Music Works:
  4. (intransitive, transitive) To capitulate (cause to capitulate) an opponent.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
capping Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
caps Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
🧢 alternative lexicographic
capped Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
capped Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

mo-cap (take a screenshot or record a video) · intercapped (capitalise)

Source: en.wiktionary, “cap” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

cap en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • [kʰɛp] (New-Zealand)
  • [kʰap] (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kɛp/ (New-Zealand)
  • /kap/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
  • /kæp/ (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • (US) audio
  • [kʰæp] (Australia, Canada, Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Scots cap, an alteration of earlier cop, from Middle English cop, from Old English copp (“a cup, vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *kopp, from Proto-Germanic *kuppaz.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) A wooden drinking-bowl with two handles.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
🧢 alternative lexicographic
caps Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

cappie