cap
noun
a close-fitting covering for the head, usually of soft supple material and having no visor or brim.
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cap
1 American
[kap]
/ kæp /
noun
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a close-fitting covering for the head, usually of soft supple material and having no visor or brim.
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a brimless head covering with a visor, such as a baseball cap.
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a head covering that denotes rank, occupation, religious order, or the like.
a nurse's cap.
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anything that resembles or suggests a covering for the head in shape, use, or position.
Please replace the cap on the toothpaste tube when finished using it.
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a mobcap.
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a maximum limit, such as one that is set by law or agreement on prices, wages, spending, etc., during a certain period of time; ceiling.
We've had to set a 3 percent cap on pay increases for this year.
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Mycology. the pileus, or horizontal portion, of a mushroom.
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Botany. calyptra.
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Mathematics. the symbol ∩, used to indicate the intersection of two sets.
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Mining. a short, horizontal beam at the top of a prop for supporting part of a roof.
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a noise-making device for toy pistols that is made of a small quantity of explosive wrapped in paper or other thin material.
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Chiefly British an instance of playing in an international game or match as part of a national team.
The 17-year-old has already got her first cap for Wales.
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Slang. lying talk; exaggeration.
No way did you get two grand for that old wreck of a car—that’s cap.
I see movie stars in this bar all the time, no cap.
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Chiefly British Slang. a contraceptive diaphragm.
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Nautical. a fitting of metal placed over the head of a spar, as a mast or bowsprit, and having a collar for securing an additional spar.
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a new tread that is applied to a worn tire.
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Architecture. capital.
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Carpentry. a metal plate placed over the iron of a plane to break the shavings as they rise.
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Fox Hunting. capping fee.
verb (used with object)
capped,
capping
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to close or cover with or as if with a cap.
Cap the jug of bleach tightly after each use.
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to complete (often used withoff ).
We capped our dinner with a shared slice of chocolate cake.
A talent night involving all the campers capped off the week.
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follow up with something as good or better; surpass; outdo.
to cap one joke with another.
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to serve as a cap, covering, or top to; overlie.
Snow capped the distant peaks.
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to put a maximum limit on (prices, wages, spending, etc.).
We’ve capped the contractor’s hours at 75 per month.
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Chiefly British (of a national team) to play (a chosen player) in an international game or match (used in the passive).
He has been capped for Brazil.
She was capped by England twice.
verb (used without object)
capped,
capping
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Slang. to lie or exaggerate.
Don't cap—no way that's your car.
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Chiefly British to play in an international game or match as part of a national team.
She capped for England twice.
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Fox Hunting. to hunt with a hunting club of which one is not a member, on payment of a capping fee.
idioms
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set one's cap for,
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to pursue as a potential mate.
He set his cap for the beautiful dancer.
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to have as a goal or destination.
She had already set her cap for a career in politics.
Setting his cap for the big city, he packed his things and left.
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cap in hand, humbly; in supplication.
He went to his father cap in hand and begged his forgiveness.
cap
2
American
[kap]
/ kæp /
noun
-
Usually caps uppercase.
Please set the underlined in caps.
verb (used with object)
capped,
capping
cap
3
American
[kap]
/ kæp /
noun
Slang.
CAP
4
American
Also
C.A.P.
abbreviation
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Common Agricultural Policy: a coordinated system established in 1960 by the European Economic Community for stabilizing prices of farm products of its member countries.
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computer-aided publishing.
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Stock Exchange. convertible adjustable preferred (stock).
cap.
5
American
abbreviation
cap.
6
American
abbreviation
cap.
7
American
abbreviation
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capacity.
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capital.
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capitalize.
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capitalized.
-
capital letter.
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foolscap.
cap
1
British
/ kæp /
noun
-
a covering for the head, esp a small close-fitting one made of cloth or knitted
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such a covering serving to identify the wearer's rank, occupation, etc
a nurse's cap
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something that protects or covers, esp a small lid or cover
lens cap
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an uppermost surface or part
the cap of a wave
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See percussion cap
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a small amount of explosive enclosed in paper and used in a toy gun
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sport
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an emblematic hat or beret given to someone chosen for a representative team
he has won three England caps
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a player chosen for such a team
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the upper part of a pedestal in a classical order
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the roof of a windmill, sometimes in the form of a dome
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botany the pileus of a mushroom or toadstool
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hunting
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money contributed to the funds of a hunt by a follower who is neither a subscriber nor a farmer, in return for a day's hunting
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a collection taken at a meet of hounds, esp for a charity
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anatomy
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the natural enamel covering a tooth
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an artificial protective covering for a tooth
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See Dutch cap
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an upper financial limit
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a mortarboard when worn with a gown at an academic ceremony (esp in the phrase cap and gown )
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meteorol
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the cloud covering the peak of a mountain
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the transient top of detached clouds above an increasing cumulus
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humbly, as when asking a favour
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the allusion or criticism seems to be appropriate to a particular person
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(of a woman) to be determined to win as a husband or lover
verb
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to cover, as with a cap
snow capped the mountain tops
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informal to outdo; excel
your story caps them all
to cap an anecdote
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to provide the finishing touch
we had sun, surf, cheap wine, and to cap it all a free car
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sport to select (a player) for a representative team
he was capped 30 times by Scotland
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to seal off (an oil or gas well)
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to impose an upper limit on the level of increase of (a tax, such as the council tax)
rate-capping
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hunting to ask (hunt followers) for a cap
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to award a degree to
cap.
2
British
abbreviation
-
capital
-
capitalize
-
capitalization
-
capital letter
CAP
3
British
abbreviation
cap
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cap1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English cappe “headdress, hat, cap,” Old English cæppe “hood, cape, cope,” from Late Latin cappa “hooded cloak, cap”; cf. cape 1
Origin of cap2
First recorded in 1895–1900; by shortening
Origin of cap3
First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening of capsule
Origin of cap.5
From the Latin word capiat
Origin of cap.6
From Latin capitulum “small head, capital of a column, cross beam” or Latin caput “head, to, summit, person”
Explanation
A cap is a hat that fits snugly on your head. You might wear a bathing cap when you swim, to keep your hair dry. Many caps don't have brims, while hats often do. You can even describe someone's hair using the word cap: "She has a glossy cap of dark hair." Another kind of cap is a lid: "Put the cap back on the ginger ale or it'll go flat!" And to cap is to limit, as when a school caps the number of students at 500. The root is the Latin word caput, or "head."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Harborne, who is a dual Thai-British citizen, recently registered himself to vote in the U.K., which allows him to donate above the proposed £100,000 cap.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
The public company’s market cap is $3.3 billion, but it could be worth far more to a private buyer.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The charity National Energy Action wants to see the price cap that covers gas and electricity extended to include all forms of energy, including heating oil.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Despite the state’s bigger bet on the industry — and this summer’s fight over the cap — L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
He looks down and plucks at his cap.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
That included from CAP, with President Neera Tanden promising the group would not be “intimidated.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
A new report by CAP suggests Dean's experience reflects a growing crisis facing households across Yorkshire.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
CAP Tactical Firearms sold 150 crime guns over that period.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
Capgemini CAP -4.37%decrease; red down pointing triangle said it expects artificial intelligence-related demand to fuel growth in 2026, after AI services lifted orders in last year’s final quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
CAP Rain had the pickup, so that left me on foot.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
A person Torre identified as an employee of Aspiration’s finance department, his face and voice obscured, recalled being told of the Leonard deal: “It was to circumvent the salary cap. LOL.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
"We're talking about rent prices in Lisbon that are higher than some of the richest areas of Berlin, for example, where there's been a rent cap. Not to mention the difference in wages," says Luís.
From BBC ● May 27, 2023
"We do not and will not recognise any cap. We are working so that this system does not harm our own interests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
From Reuters ● Mar. 7, 2023
“They always spend to the cap. And I assure you they want to be a competitive team as much as the most passionate fans of the Flyers.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2022
“You can’t wear a hunting cap. This is the Paradise Vendors’ uniform.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Cayabyab told AFP on Friday evening that the first transfer had been capped at 30 bodies due to the capacity of the patrol vessel transporting them and that additional cadavers remained on the ferry.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Purdy capped the drive by lofting a two-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans for a 17-7 edge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
And the town's university has capped its student numbers at around 10,000 for nearly a decade now because of the pressure on housing and other local amenities.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Tulloch’s hiring was a coup for Meta and capped a frantic recruiting spree last summer, when Meta threw money at researchers to try to catch up in the race to build artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The first $1,100 phone bill taught him the hard way that he was mistaken: The dial-in number was a toll call, unless you subscribed to a $100 plan that capped the costs.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
Leaders are instead pursuing measures such as capping cruise ship arrivals and restricting hotel construction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
She was player of the match as they beat newly promoted Birmingham City 3-1, capping off her milestone appearance in the perfect way.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
This week he signed into law a bill reducing taxes on diesel and capping commercial markups on both diesel and petrol, a bid to keep energy costs in check.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
As Juliette Cubanski of KFF explained, the demonstration worked by reducing the base beneficiary premium for Part D and capping the yearly increase.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
She pours the jelly into hot jars, capping them with paraffin wax.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
