1 cap·i·tal
Pronounced:
/ˈkæpətl̟/
Function:
adjectiveMeaning:
1 of a letter : in the form A, B, C, etc., rather than a, b, c : uppercase ▪ capital letters ▪ a capital D ▪ His handwritten capital S's look a lot like lowercase/small s's. —sometimes used informally to give emphasis to a description ▪ He is conservative with a capital C! [=he is very conservative] ▪ The sauce is spicy with a capital S. [=it is very spicy]
2 : having the main offices of a government ▪ the state's capital city
3 of a crime : having death as a possible punishment ▪ Homicide that occurs during the course of an attempted kidnapping is a capital crime in some states. ▪ capital murder/rape charges —see also capital punishment
4 chiefly Brit old-fashioned : excellent ▪ a capital idea
2 : having the main offices of a government ▪ the state's capital city
3 of a crime : having death as a possible punishment ▪ Homicide that occurs during the course of an attempted kidnapping is a capital crime in some states. ▪ capital murder/rape charges —see also capital punishment
4 chiefly Brit old-fashioned : excellent ▪ a capital idea