cap
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈkap 
often attributive
1
a
: a head covering especially with a visor and no brim
b
: a distinctive head covering emblematic of a position or office: such as
(1)
: a cardinal's biretta
(2)
: mortarboard
2
: a natural cover or top: such as
a
: an overlying rock layer that is usually hard to penetrate
b(1)
: pileus
(2)
: calyptra
c
: the top of a bird's head or a patch of distinctively colored feathers in this area
3
a
: something that serves as a cover or protection especially for a tip, knob, or end
a bottle cap
b
: a fitting for closing the end of a tube
c
British : cervical cap
d
: an artificial crown for a tooth
4
: an overlaying or covering structure
5
: a paper or metal container holding an explosive charge (as for a toy pistol)
6
: an upper limit (as on expenditures) : ceiling
a cap on military spending
7
: the symbol ∩ indicating the intersection of two sets compare cup sense 9
8
: a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
cap
2 of 6verb
capped; capping
transitive verb
1
a
: to provide or protect with a cap
cap a bottle
b
: to give a cap to as a symbol of honor, rank, or achievement
2
: to form a cap over : crown
mountains capped with mist
3
a
: to follow with something more noticeable or more significant : outdo
b
: to bring to a climax or conclusion
cap off the show with a song
4
: to form a chemical cap on
5
: to prevent from growing or spreading : set an upper limit on
cap oil prices
6
: to supply (a tooth) with an artificial crown
intransitive verb
: to form or produce a chemical cap
cap
3 of 6noun (2)
: a small amount of an illegal or legally regulated drug
especially : a small amount of a drug enclosed in a capsule
a cap of cocaine
cap
4 of 6noun (3)
plural caps
1
: capitalization sense 1d
2
: a capital letter —usually plural
a message written in capsAccording to [linguist Deborah] Tannen, women's preference for expressive hashtags is "similar to their using exclamation points, caps, and repetition of letters to show emphasis, and to the fact that women's spoken intonation patterns tend to vary more than men's."
Jessica BennettGood netiquette includes not using all caps [=exclusively capital letters] when typing, as it comes across as shouting. John DeGarmo
Jessica BennettGood netiquette includes not using all caps [=exclusively capital letters] when typing, as it comes across as shouting. John DeGarmocap
5 of 6abbreviation (1)
1
capacity
2
capital
3
capitalize; capitalized
CAP
6 of 6abbreviation (2)
1
Civil Air Patrol
2
combat air patrol
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- chapeau
- hat
- headdress
- headgear
- headpiece
- lid [slang]
Verb
- circumscribe
- confine
- hold down
- limit
- restrict
Noun (2)
- capsule
- lozenge
- pill
- tablet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb a pipe capped at one end Be sure to cap the pen when you are done using it. The report caps a ten-year study of lung cancer among nonsmokers. a concert capped by a fantastic fireworks display If the teams don't cap player salaries, the league won't survive. The law would cap legal immigration. The government wants to cap councils that spend too much. See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb
Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Late Latin cappa head covering, cloak
Noun (2)
short for capsule
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1942, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing cap
Kids Definition
cap 1 of 3
noun
ˈkap
1
: a head covering and especially one having a visor and no brim
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection for something
a bottle cap
3
: a part that forms the top of something
a mushroom cap
4
: an upper limit
a cap on spending
5
: a paper or metal container holding a small explosive charge
The toy pistol shoots caps.
cap
2 of 3verb
capped; capping
1
: to cover or provide with a top or cover
Please remember to cap the marker.
The mountaintops are capped with snow.
2
: to bring to a high point or end
He capped off the show with a song.
3
: to match or follow with something equal or better
She capped his joke with one of her own.
4
: to put an upper limit on
Attendance is capped at 80 participants.
cap.
3 of 3abbreviation
1
capital
2
capitalize
3
capitalized
Medical Definition
cap 1 of 3
noun
ˈkap
often attributive
1
: a natural cover or top: as
a
: pileus
b
: patella, kneecap
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection especially for a tip, knob, or end (as of a tooth)
3
British : cervical cap
4
: a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
the cell surface receptors were redistributed into caps
cap
2 of 3verb
capped; capping
transitive verb
1
: to invest (a student nurse) with a cap as an indication of completion of a probationary period of study
2
: to cover (a diseased or exposed part of a tooth) with a protective substance
3
: to form a chemical cap on
the capped end of a messenger RNA
intransitive verb
: to form or produce a chemical cap
cap
3 of 3abbreviation
1
capacity
2
capsule
Legal Definition
cap
noun
ˈkap
: an upper limit
a jury found that KAL had committed “willful misconduct,” thus removing the Warsaw Convention's $75,000 cap on damages Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)
Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)capers 1 of 2
noun
as in pranks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke long-ago college capers that have become more rollicking and daring with each recounting Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pranks
- adventures
- tricks
- escapades
- antics
- experiences
- gags
- frolics
- monkeyshines
- rags
- games
- practical jokes
- jests
- hijinks
- rogueries
- knaveries
- waggeries
- capriccios
- times
- shines
- plays
- shavies
- didos
- larks
- performances
- didoes
- stunts
- gambits
- shenanigans
- deeds
- high jinks
- hoaxes
- missions
- subterfuges
- maneuvers
- trickeries
- deceits
- deceptions
- tomfooleries
- whimsies
- feats
- caprices
- ruses
- horseplays
- stratagems
- frauds
- wiles
- rowdyisms
- vagaries
- ploys
- conceits
- whims
- fancies
- delusions
- whimseys
- hanky-pankies
- shams
capers
2 of 2verb
as in gambols
to play and run about happily as summer drew to a close, the children spent their days wistfully capering on the beach Synonyms & Similar Words
- gambols
- hops
- cavorts
- dances
- romps
- leaps
- frolics
- larks
- rollicks
- sports
- cuts capers
- frisks
- skips
- revels
- disports
- carouses
- trips
- clowns
- tumbles
- springs
- lopes
- curvets
- bounds
- prances
- roisters
- kicks up one's heels
- horses around
- kites
- joyrides
- fools around
- roughhouses
- cuts up
- skylarks
- carries on
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stews
- pouts
- sulks
- mopes