Capital is a large sum of money which you use to start a business, or which you invest in order to make more money.
[business]
Companies are having difficulty in raising capital.
A large amount of capital is invested in all these branches.
2. uncountable noun [usually NOUN noun]
You can use capital to refer to buildings or machinery which are necessary to produce goods or to make companies more efficient, but which do not make money directly.
[business]
...capital equipment that could have served to increase production.
...capital investment.
3. uncountable noun
Capital is the part of an amount of money borrowed or invested which does not include interest.
[business]
With a conventional repayment mortgage, the repayments consist of both capital andinterest.
4. countable noun
The capital of a country is the city or town where its government or parliament meets.
...Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. [+ of]
5. countable noun
If a place is thecapitalof a particular industry or activity, it is the place that is most famous for it, because it happens in that place more than anywhere else.
Colmar has long been considered the capital of the wine trade. [+ of]
...New York, the fashion capital of the world. [+ of]
6. countable noun
Capitals or capital letters are written or printed letters in the form which is used at the beginning of sentences or names. 'T', 'B', and 'F' are capitals.
The name and address are written in capitals.
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A capital offence is one that is so serious that the person who commits it can be punished by death.
Espionage is a capital offence in this country.
...Americans wrongly convicted of capital crimes.
8. countable noun
A capital is the top part of a stone column, which is sometimes decorated with stone leaves or other patterns.
[technical]
9. See also working capital
10.
See make capital of sth/make capital out of sth
11.
See with a capital
More Synonyms of capital
capital in British English1
(ˈkæpɪtəl)
noun
1.
a.
the seat of government of a country or other political unit
b.
(as modifier)
a capital city
2.
material wealth owned by an individual or business enterprise
3.
wealth available for or capable of use in the production of further wealth, as by industrial investment
4. make capital of
5. (sometimes capital)
the capitalist class or their interests
capital versus labour
6. accounting
a.
the ownership interests of a business as represented by the excess of assets over liabilities
b.
the nominal value of the authorized or issued shares
c.
(as modifier)
capital issues
7.
any assets or resources, esp when used to gain profit or advantage
8.
a.
a capital letter
Abbreviation: cap., cap
b.
(as modifier)
capital B
9. with a capital letter
adjective
10. (prenominal) law
involving or punishable by death
a capital offence
11.
very serious; fatal
a capital error
12.
primary, chief, or principal
our capital concern is that everyone is safe
13.
of, relating to, or designating the large modern majuscule letter used chiefly as the initial letter in personal names and place names and other uniquely specificatory nouns, and often for abbreviations and acronyms
Compare small (sense 9), See also upper case
14. mainly British
excellent; first-rate
a capital idea
Word origin
C13: from Latin capitālis (adj) concerning the head, chief, from caput head; compare Medieval Latin capitāle (n) wealth, from capitālis (adj)
capital in British English2
(ˈkæpɪtəl)
noun
the upper part of a column or pier that supports the entablature
Also called: chapiter, cap
Word origin
C14: from Old French capitel, from Late Latin capitellum, diminutive of caput head
capital in American English1
(ˈkæpətəl)
adjective
1.
involving or punishable by death (originally by decapitation)
a capital offense
2.
most important or most serious; principal; chief
a capital virtue
3.
of most political importance, as being the seat of government
a capital city
4.
of or having to do with capital, or wealth
5.
first-rate; excellent
a capital idea
capital letter
noun
6.
capital letter
7.
a city or town that is the official seat of government of a state, nation, etc.
8.
a city where a certain industry, activity, etc. is centered
the rubber capital
9.
wealth (money or property) owned or used in business by a person, corporation, etc.
10.
an accumulated stock of such wealth or its value
11.
wealth, in whatever form, used or capable of being used to produce more wealth
12.
any source of benefit or assistance
13. [oftenC-]
capitalists collectively
see also labor
14. Accounting
a.
the net worth of a business; amount by which the assets exceed the liabilities
b.
the face value of all the stock issued or authorized by a corporation
SIMILAR WORDS: chief
Idioms:
make capital of
Word origin
ME & OFr < L capitalis, of the head < caput, head
capital in American English2
(ˈkæpətəl)
noun
the top part of a column or pilaster
Word origin
ME < OFr chapitel < L capitellum, dim. of caput, head
capital in Finance
(kæpɪtəl)
noun
(Finance: General)
Capital is money that you use to start a business.
They provide capital for small businesses.
The value of invested capital is equal to the value of the operating business enterprise.
Capital is money that you use to start a business.
capital account, capital employed, capital expenditure, capital gains, capital lease, capital loss, capital stock, paid-in capital, seed capital, share capital, venture capital, weighted average cost of capital, working capital
Word familycapitalcapitalizecapitalization
capital in Accounting
(kæpɪtəl)
noun
(Accounting: Investing)
Capital is money that you use to start a business.
They provide capital for the start-up of small businesses.
Companies are having difficulty in raising capital.
Capital is money that you use to start a business.
capital account, capital expense, capital gain, capital gain, capital lease, capital loss, capital stock, paid-in capital, return of capital, return on capital, weighted average cost of capital, working capital
Word familycapitalcapitalizationcapitalize
More idioms containing
capital
... with a capital ...
COBUILD Collocations
capital
commercial capital
fashion capital
growth capital
Examples of 'capital' in a sentence
capital
Of course spare cash should first be made available for capital investment in the business.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Is that really what we want for our fantastic capital city?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those businesses need capital to set up and grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The real impetus behind the capital gains of the past ten years is fading.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The students' union can increase your social capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
America's theme park capital is the place to make all of your holiday dreams come true.
The Sun (2016)
The focus should be on providing farms of all sizes with the capital to invest in more productive equipment and training to use it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But we cannot allow the urgent human crisis we are in to be exploited by those who seek to make political capital out of human misery.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Trip to Nashville, the world capital of country music.
The Sun (2017)
It takes the view that Brexit uncertainty will hit investment in capital equipment and in skills and training, hampering productivity growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Venice was the capital of fashion and the playground of the rich.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The possible adverse effect of a sharp rise in capital gains tax remains a concern.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
No politician will now think it worth spending any political capital in reopening the issue.
The Sun (2011)
Its working capital will increase as the company reduces its inventory.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Low production hindered the possibility of acquiring capital equipment that could have served to increase production.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
They take out the interest and their capital shrinks in value over time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You could give your executors power to make capital available to him should he need it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are only responsible for adding value to the government capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This was a capital offence at the time.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
This could be cashed in free of income or capital gains tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The writing on the wall had been in capital letters for months.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
No single government will gain much political capital from addressing that inadequacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They want to see the best return on their invested capital.
Geoffrey A. Moore LIVING ON THE FAULT LINE, REVISED EDITION (2002)
They provide an important source of risk capital for new business projects and advice and assistance for small businesses.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
There is very little actually left to cover the costs of capital and to form capital for the future.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING IN TURBULENT TIMES (1980)
Good news for the unemployed in one of the capital's poorest boroughs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They say he's making a mess of our great capital city.
The Sun (2011)
No income, wealth or capital gains tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The south front has a pretty veranda supported by Greek columns with palm capitals.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They think a better plan would be to use taxpayers' money to put capital directly into the banking system.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
capital
British English: capital /ˈkæpɪtl/ NOUN
moneyCapital is money that you use to start a business.
Companies are having difficulty raising capital.
American English: capital
Arabic: عَاصِمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: capital
Chinese: 首都
Croatian: kapital
Czech: kapitál
Danish: kapital
Dutch: kapitaal
European Spanish: capital
Finnish: pääkaupunki
French: capital
German: Hauptstadt
Greek: κεφάλαιο
Italian: capitale
Japanese: 首都
Korean: 수도 도시
Norwegian: hovedstad
Polish: kapitał
European Portuguese: capital
Romanian: capital
Russian: стартовый капитал city
Latin American Spanish: capital
Swedish: huvudstad
Thai: เมืองหลวง
Turkish: başkent
Ukrainian: капітал
Vietnamese: vốn
British English: capital /ˈkæpɪtl/ NOUN
city The capital of a country is the main city, where the country's leaders work.
Paris is the capital of France.
American English: capital
Arabic: عَاصِمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: capital
Chinese: 首都
Croatian: glavni grad
Czech: hlavní město
Danish: hovedstad
Dutch: hoofdstad
European Spanish: capital
Finnish: pääkaupunki
French: capitaleville
German: Hauptstadt
Greek: πρωτεύουσα
Italian: capitale
Japanese: 首都
Korean: 수도
Norwegian: hovedstad
Polish: stolica
European Portuguese: capital
Romanian: capitală
Russian: столица
Latin American Spanish: capitalciudad
Swedish: huvudstad
Thai: เมืองหลวง
Turkish: başkent
Ukrainian: столиця
Vietnamese: thủ đô
British English: capital /ˈkæpɪtl/ NOUN
letter A capital is a big letter of the alphabet, for example A or R.
American English: capital
Arabic: حَرْفٌ كَبِير
Brazilian Portuguese: letra maiúscula
Chinese: 大写字母
Croatian: veliko slovo
Czech: velké písmeno
Danish: stort bogstav
Dutch: hoofdletter
European Spanish: mayúscula
Finnish: iso alkukirjain
French: capitalelettre
German: Großbuchstabe
Greek: κεφαλαίο
Italian: maiuscola
Japanese: 大文字
Korean: 대문자
Norwegian: versal
Polish: wielka litera
European Portuguese: letra maiúscula
Romanian: majusculă
Russian: заглавная буква
Latin American Spanish: mayúscula
Swedish: stor bokstav
Thai: ตัวพิมพ์ใหญ่
Turkish: büyük harf
Ukrainian: велика літера
Vietnamese: chữ in hoa
All related terms of 'capital'
capital sum
an amount of money paid to an insured person or paid as an initial fee or investment
block capital
a plain capital letter
capital asset
See fixed asset
capital city
the seat of government of a country or other political unit
capital cost
a cost incurred on the purchase of land, buildings, construction and equipment to be used in the production of goods or the rendering of services
capital gain
the amount by which the selling price of a financial asset exceeds its cost
capital gains
Capital gains are the profits that you make when you buy something and then sell it again at a higher price .
capital goods
Capital goods are used to make other products . Compare → consumer goods .
capital lease
A capital lease is a lease that is treated as the purchase of the asset that is being leased.
capital levy
a tax on capital or property as contrasted with a tax on income
capital loss
A capital loss is a loss on investment property .
capital ship
one of the largest and most heavily armed ships in a naval fleet
capital stock
the par value of the total share capital that a company is authorized to issue
capital value
The value of something is how much money it is worth .
human capital
the abilities and skills of any individual, esp those acquired through investment in education and training, that enhance potential income earning
loan capital
borrowed capital
risk capital
capital invested in an issue of ordinary shares, esp of a speculative enterprise
seed capital
Seed capital is an amount of money that a new company needs to pay for the costs of producing a business plan so that they can raise further capital to develop the company.
share capital
A company's share capital is the money that shareholders invest in order to start or expand the business.
small capital
a letter having the form of an upper-case letter but the same height as a lower-case letter
capital account
A country's capital account is the part of its balance of payments that is concerned with the movement of capital.
capital assets
any assets , tangible or intangible , that are held for long-term investment
capital budget
a budget for major capital or investment expenditures
capital buffer
A buffer is something that prevents something else from being harmed or that prevents two things from harming each other.
capital expense
A capital expense is the cost of acquiring or making improvements to fixed assets .
capital gearing
the ratio of a company's debt capital to its equity capital
capital growth
The growth of something such as an industry, organization, or idea is its development in size, wealth , or importance .
capital inflow
In economics , capital inflow is the amount of capital coming into a country, for example in the form of foreign investment .
capital letter
Capital letters are the same as capitals .
capital market
the financial institutions collectively that deal with medium-term and long-term capital and loans
capital offence
a crime for which the death penalty is used
capital outlay
a capital expenditure
capital surplus
any surplus of a business firm not derived from direct earnings or profits
cushion capital
a capital, used in Byzantine , Romanesque , and Norman architecture , in the form of a bowl with a square top
equity capital
the part of the share capital of a company owned by ordinary shareholders or in certain circumstances by other classes of shareholder
erotic capital
the influence and earning power a person has as a result of his or her sexual attractiveness
fashion capital
If a place is the capital of a particular industry or activity, it is the place that is most famous for it, because it happens in that place more than anywhere else.
flight capital
funds transferred abroad in order to avoid high taxes or to provide for a person's needs if flight from the country becomes necessary
growth capital
Capital is a large sum of money which you use to start a business, or which you invest in order to make more money.
issued capital
the shares of a company that have been sold or distributed
refugee capital
money from abroad invested , esp for a short term , in the country offering the highest interest rate
social capital
the network of social connections that exist between people, and their shared values and norms of behaviour , which enable and encourage mutually advantageous social cooperation
trading capital
the total amount of money available for buying assets
venture capital
Venture capital is capital that is invested in projects that have a high risk of failure , but that will bring large profits if they are successful .
working capital
Working capital is money which is available for use immediately , rather than money which is invested in land or equipment .
authorized capital
the total amount of value of the shares that a company is allowed to distribute
capital allowance
the practice of allowing a certain amount of money spent by a company on fixed assets to be taken off the profits of the company before tax is imposed
capital allowances
the money spent by a company on fixed assets which can be taken off the profits of the company before tax is imposed
capital employed
the money used by a business for buying land, buildings, equipment etc
capital equipment
the equipment that a business buys
Chinese translation of 'capital'
capital
(ˈkæpɪtl)
n
(c) (= city) 首都 (shǒudū) (个(個), gè)
⇒ the Danish capital, Copenhagen丹麦的首都，哥本哈根 (Dānmài de shǒudū, Gēběnhāgēn)
(u) (= money) 资(資)本 (zīběn)
⇒ He provided most of the capital.他提供了大部分的资本。 (Tā tígōngle dàbùfen de zīběn.)
(c) (also capital letter) 大写(寫)字母 (dàxiě zìmù) (个(個), gè)
adj
(Law)[offence, crime]死刑 (sǐxíng)
in capitals用大写(寫)字母 (yòng dàxiě zìmǔ)
⇒ The name was written in capitals.名字是用大写的。 (Míngzì shì yòng dàxiě de.)
capital R/L etc大写(寫)字母R/L等 (dàxiě zìmǔ R/L děng)
(noun)
Definition
wealth used to produce more wealth by investment
The company is having difficulties in raising capital.
Synonyms
money
A lot of money that you pay goes back to the distributor.
funds
stock
The Fisher family holds 40% of the stock.
investment(s)
property
Security forces confiscated weapons and stolen property.
cash
I'm a bit short of cash this month.
finance
businesses seeking finance
finances
financing
The programme needed additional financing.
resources
assets
wealth
The discovery of oil brought untold wealth to the island.
principal
Use the higher premiums to pay the interest and principal on the debt.
means
wherewithal
She didn't have the financial wherewithal to start a new business.
wonga (slang)
1 (adjective)
Synonyms
principal
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
leading
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
controlling
major
Exercise has a major part to play in maintaining your health.
important
The important thing is that you rest.
chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.
The job went to one of his chief rivals.
main
My main concern now is to protect the children.
prime
Political stability is a prime concern.
central
a central part of government policy
essential
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
primary
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
vital
a blockade which could cut off vital oil and gas supplies
prominent
a prominent member of the Law Society
cardinal
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
foremost
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
overruling
pre-eminent
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
2 (adjective)
The name and address are written in capital letters.
Synonyms
upper case
block
3 (adjective)
Definition
excellent or first-rate
(old-fashioned)
They had a capital time in London.
Synonyms
first-rate
They were dealing with a first-rate professional.
fine
This is a fine book.
excellent
We complimented him on doing an excellent job.
superb
a superb 18-hole golf course
sterling
his years of sterling service
splendid
The book includes a wealth of splendid photographs.
world-class
He was determined to become a world-class tennis player.
subject word lists
See Capital cities
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cardinal
Definition
fundamentally important
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.