1 cap
Pronounced:
/ˈkæp/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural capsMeaning:
[count] 1 a : a small, soft hat that often has a hard curved part (called a visor) that extends out over your eyes ▪ a Harvard University cap [=a cap that has the name or symbol of Harvard University on it] ▪ a knit/knitted cap ▪ his wool/tweed cap —see also baseball cap b : a covering for a person's head that is worn for a special purpose ▪ a shower/bathing cap [=a head covering that people wear to keep their hair dry when they are showering/swimming] —see also thinking cap c : a hat that people with particular jobs wear while working ▪ a painter's cap ▪ a surgeon's cap, gown, and gloves
2 : a part or object that covers the end or top of something ▪ a bottle cap ▪ a lens cap ▪ a pill bottle with a childproof cap ▪ Put the cap back on the marker when you are done using it.
3 : a part that forms the top of something ▪ a bird with a black cap [=a black section of feathers on the top of its head] ▪ a mushroom cap [=the top part of a mushroom]
4 : a limit on the amount of money that can be spent, given, charged, etc., for something ▪ a spending cap ▪ a cap on political donations ▪ a cap on doctor's fees
5 : a paper or metal container that holds an explosive substance ▪ a blasting cap
6 informal : a capital letter —usually plural ▪ e-mails written in all caps ▪ She signed the letter with her name in caps: KIM.
7 : a hard substance that is shaped to look like a healthy tooth and used to cover a damaged tooth
8 Brit sports a : an opportunity to play for your school or country ▪ He won his first cap against Columbia when he was 22. b : a player chosen to play for a country's team
9 Brit : diaphragm 3
2 : a part or object that covers the end or top of something ▪ a bottle cap ▪ a lens cap ▪ a pill bottle with a childproof cap ▪ Put the cap back on the marker when you are done using it.
3 : a part that forms the top of something ▪ a bird with a black cap [=a black section of feathers on the top of its head] ▪ a mushroom cap [=the top part of a mushroom]
4 : a limit on the amount of money that can be spent, given, charged, etc., for something ▪ a spending cap ▪ a cap on political donations ▪ a cap on doctor's fees
5 : a paper or metal container that holds an explosive substance ▪ a blasting cap
6 informal : a capital letter —usually plural ▪ e-mails written in all caps ▪ She signed the letter with her name in caps: KIM.
7 : a hard substance that is shaped to look like a healthy tooth and used to cover a damaged tooth
8 Brit sports a : an opportunity to play for your school or country ▪ He won his first cap against Columbia when he was 22. b : a player chosen to play for a country's team
9 Brit : diaphragm 3
a feather in your cap —see 1feather
cap in hand —see 1hand
if the cap fits or if the cap fits, wear it
Brit —used to say that something said about a person is true and the person should accept it as true ▪ They may not like being called careless, but if the cap fits, wear it. [=(US) if the shoe fits, wear it]
tip your cap —see 1tip