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:
There is normally a 25-percent cap on foreign broadcast ownership.
From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2026
On game days Araujo gets to the ballpark about 2½ hours before first pitch, pausing in the parking lot to pull on an Angels cap and jersey with his name on the back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Home Depot took a niche, specialty retail idea and somehow turned it into a $300 billion market cap behemoth that today does about $165 billion in annual sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Under the new changes, those who qualify for a second year will have to go into a ballot with a cap of 45,000, down from the 57,000 who qualified last year.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
He took off his cap and I noticed again that startling orange-red hair.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Capgemini CAP 0.05%increase; green up pointing triangle set out a plan through to 2028, expecting revenue to grow as it continues to tap into artificial intelligence to help scale businesses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Such topicality is what drew Edgar Miramontes, leader of CAP UCLA, to the show, despite his admittance to being largely unfamiliar with the world of video games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026
Paris-based Capgemini CAP 2.62%increase; green up pointing triangle said it would sell a division that provides consulting services to government agencies in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026
CAP said it was seeing more people going into debt due to basic bills rather than credit cards and buy now pay later payments.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026
CAP Rain had the pickup, so that left me on foot.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
The person alleged in an interview that the sponsorship deal was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
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
"It also comes down to the salary cap. We're really hopeful that we'll find a contract, but we'll just have to sit tight and wait and hopefully something comes along."
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 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
“A standing cat with a baseball cap. I like it. I like it very much.”
From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate
Every Bitcoin transaction is public, and the number of Bitcoin that will ever circulate has been arbitrarily capped at 21 million.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
In June he revealed a state budget measure that capped how much in tax credits a business can claim each year, a limit industry groups warned would undercut the expanded program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Negative convexity means potential price gains for investors from the bond are capped by falling interest rates because borrowers can pay off their loans long before maturity.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
While the market is expected to price in roughly quarterly rate hikes for the time being, Japan’s terminal rate is likely to be capped at or below 2%, Fujiki says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Its massive dome, capped over white alabaster stonework, seemed determined to hold every one of the stars’ glittering lights in its reflection.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
As well as capping prescription fees, other changes include:
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
He even added an electric 86-yard punt return for a score last Saturday, capping a three-week debut that appeared to announce the freshman as one of the most dynamic weapons in college football.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
JPMorgan hosted hundreds of SpaceX employees at its headquarters in Manhattan to celebrate the stock’s listing, capping off the event with a light show featuring rocket launches.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Among the most popular versions are so-called buffer funds, which explicitly limit downside for investors while also capping gains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Dede sighs, capping her pen and closing the book.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
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.
