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
-
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:
“Repealing the national cap will provide essential relief for local broadcasters by restoring a healthy counterbalance to the growing leverage of national programmers,” Carr said at the meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
The measure supported by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr will allow the agency to approve deals that put station ownership groups over the cap if the agency determines that they are promoting the public interest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Eliminating the cap does not free local broadcasters from economic pressure, it just changes who is doing the squeezing,” Gomez said in a statement issued ahead of the vote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
One is the new spending cap, but another is the fact that the new college sports economy in this bill is unfolding without the players’ participation.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
He nods to my Tigers cap as I walk up.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
That success, and the money that nourishes it, has battalions of fans beyond Los Angeles all but marching outside ballparks with picket signs reading “SALARY CAP NOW.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
CAP Tactical Firearms sold 150 crime guns over that period.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
After nearly a year of CAP therapy, Rebecca says she is now starting to recover, but stresses that it's not a cure.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026
Capgemini CAP 5.50%increase; green up pointing triangle lifted its full-year revenue guidance after it reported higher third-quarter revenue driven by growth in its North America, U.K. and Ireland divisions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
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 support proposals to introduce an industry-wide resale price cap. We also urge the government to crack down on bots and ban speculative ticket sales."
From BBC ● Jan. 9, 2025
“We’re never going to agree to a cap. Let me start there. We don’t have a cap, we’re not going to agree to a cap,” Clark added.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 27, 2023
"Investors who think YCC is unsustainable would keep attacking the yield cap. Those who feel the BOJ will successfully maintain YCC can safely keep selling yen," said former BOJ executive Shigenori Shiratsuka.
From Reuters ● Sep. 28, 2022
“I am certainly not wearing a paper cap. The one that I have is perfectly good and far more healthful.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
They cited the capped return on capital, the exposure to uncertain returns on invested capital and the lack of participation in the upside that’s available to equity investors.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
The specific amount of the minimum wage increase is tied to inflation — as measured by the federal consumer price index — and capped at 3.5%, according to state law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Growth in the September quarter is being capped because Apple can’t fulfill demand fast enough.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
While demand for next-generation data centers remains hot, executives signaled that output is capped by current manufacturing limits as it rushes to build out new capacity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
It seems to be a wide ice-river running down from the plateau between two mountains, volcanoes, both capped with steam and smoke.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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
It suggested ways to reduce the cost of wildfire liabilities, including by capping fees of attorneys representing victims and reducing payments to survivors for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Economist Hamad Hussain says the sharp decline in China’s crude imports has been a key factor capping global oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
He spent this week making a series of spending announcements mostly aimed at tackling the cost of living, including capping bus fares.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Before there had always been his polite capping of remarks like this: “Yes, they do, that’s what they call it”—but today he glanced speculatively at me and said nothing.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
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.
