- 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
- a special covering for the head, worn as a mark of occupation, rank, academic degree, etc.: a cardinal's cap, fool's cap
- mortarboard (sense )
- 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
- percussion cap
- a little paper percussion cap for toy guns (cap guns)
- an upper limit set on a budget, cost, etc.; ceiling
Origin of cap
Middle English cappe from Old English cæppe and Medieval Latin cappa from Late Latin cappa, a cape, hooded cloaktransitive verb
capped, cap′ping- to put a cap on
- to present ceremonially with a special cap, as at a graduation: to cap a nurse
- to cover the top or end of; form a cap: snow capped the hills
- to do as well as or better than; equal or excel
- to follow with another that is equivalent or better than; match: to cap a quotation
- to bring to a high point or climax
- to put a finishing touch on; embellish: often with off: to cap off a lovely evening with a late dessert
- 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 (someone) as a husband or lover
