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cap1 definition

cap (kap)

noun

  1. any closefitting head covering, brimless or with only a front visor, and made of wool, cotton, etc., as a baseball cap or overseas cap, or of muslin or lace, as a nurse's or baby's cap
    1. a special covering for the head, worn as a mark of occupation, rank, academic degree, etc. a cardinal's cap, fool's cap
    2. mortarboard (sense )
  2. a caplike part or thing; cover or top, as the cap-shaped part of a mushroom, a small metal cover for a bottle, the cover over a camera lens or other projecting or end part, a kneecap, an artificial crown for a tooth, a mountain top, or the capital of a column
  3. percussion cap
  4. a little paper percussion cap for toy guns (cap guns)
  5. an upper limit set on a budget, cost, etc.; ceiling

Etymology: ME cappe < OE cæppe & ML cappa < LL cappa, a cape, hooded cloak

transitive verb capped, capping cap′·ping

  1. to put a cap on
  2. to present ceremonially with a special cap, as at a graduation to cap a nurse
  3. to cover the top or end of; form a cap snow capped the hills
    1. to do as well as or better than; equal or excel
    2. to follow with another that is equivalent or better than; match to cap a quotation
  4. to bring to a high point, as of interest or excitement; climax
  5. to set a cap, or upper limit, for
cap Idioms

cap in hand

in a humble or servile manner

cap the climax

to be or do more than could be expected or believed

set one's cap for

to try to win as a husband or lover
cap2 definition

cap

  1. capacity
  2. capital
    1. capitalization
    2. capitalize
    3. capitalized
  3. Etymology: L capsula

    Pharmacy a capsule
  4. Etymology: L capitulum

    chapter
  5. Etymology: L capiat

    Pharmacy take
CAP definition

CAP

Civil Air Patrol

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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