admiral

(ad′mə rəl)

noun

the commanding officer of a navy or fleet
U.S. Navy
1. an officer of the highest rank, ranking just above a vice admiral and having the insignia of four stars
2. generally, any of the officers ranking above a captain, with admiral as part of the title of their rank
Archaic a vessel carrying the admiral; flagship
any of various large, colorful butterflies (genera Limenitis and Vanessa) with unusually small forelegs

Origin: ME admirail, amirail < OFr admiral, amiral < Ar ʾamīral-ʿālī < ʾamīr, leader + ʿālī, high; sp. infl. by admirable

Related Forms:

See admiral in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The commander in chief of a fleet.
A flag officer.
a. Abbr. ADM or Adm. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard that is above vice admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet.
b. One who holds the rank of admiral, Admiral of the Fleet, rear admiral, or vice admiral.
Any of various brightly colored butterflies of the genera Limenitis and Vanessa.
Archaic The ship carrying an admiral; flagship.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English amiral, admiral

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: and from Medieval Latin amīrālis, admīrālis

Origin: , both from Arabic ’amīr al- …, commander of the …

Origin: : ’amīr, commander; see אmr in Semitic roots

Origin: + al-, the

Learn more about admiral

admiral synonyms

admiral in a sentence

admiral quotes

link/cite print suggestion box