a sleeveless garment of various lengths, fastened around the neck and falling loosely from the shoulders, worn separately or attached to a coat or other outer garment.
the capa of a bullfighter.
a piece of land jutting into the sea or some other large body of water.
the Cape.
Northeastern U.S. Cape Cod.
the SW region of South Africa, in Western Cape province
a sleeveless garment like a cloak but usually shorter
a strip of material attached to a coat or other garment so as to fall freely, usually from the shoulders
First recorded in 1610–20; from French cap(p)e, from Spanish capa or Italian cappa, from Late Latin cappa “hooded cloak”; see also cope 2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English cap, from Middle French, from Old Provençal cap or Italian capo, from Vulgar Latin capum (unrecorded) for Latin caput “head”
Superman is easily recognizable by his red cape, a sleeveless garment that hangs from his shoulders and rustles in the wind when he flies. The word cape comes from the Latin cappa meaning "covering for the head." Capes aren't just worn by superheroes. A poncho is a type of cape that you wear in the rain to stay dry. Speaking of water, a cape is also a stretch of land that extends into a body of water — like Cape Cod, which extends into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One person has come forward to declare he will challenge Farage: Count Binface, the alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey, who regularly runs in UK elections with his trash-can shaped head and long cape.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
He might not have a hat, mask and a cape, but his eye rolls are the stuff of legend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“It’s electric,” said Fletcher, whose son wore an American flag as a cape beneath a tri-cornered colonial hat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
The 39-year-old wore a striking Egyptian-inspired white and gold outfit, complete with a cape and draped sleeves, though his answers did not match the extravagance of his attire.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
Seven ran, trying to grab the collar of Thorn’s cape, but it was too late.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
At least 13 teams in this tournament had at least one French-born player, among them Spain and Cape Verde.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
That’s one extra opportunity for a fluke, a referee’s decision, or a Cape Verde to break against them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
This was surpassed by the 33C for Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde six days later.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
After being expected to steamroller past Cape Verde and Egypt in the first two knockout rounds, La Albiceleste had to fight tooth and nail for 3-2 victories.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Even the base of the Statue of Liberty was made of granite mined from Cape Ann quarries.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
That belief is patently untrue, but more difficult to measure if filmmakers and studios refuse to take a real chance on their caped crusadettes.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
Presiding over the baddies, Jared Leto’s blue-skinned, caped, literally boneheaded man-demon Skeletor is meant to be the fiercest of antagonists, but even his own henchmen find his signature evil cackle to be a bit laughable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
With his iconic red and blue caped costume, the character is known as much for his godlike superpowers as he is for being the ultimate good guy with all-American looks and charm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2025
In France, his caped and bearded figure became an emblem of Christian self-sacrifice.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024
He was there, and Mary owned the attraction of the big smiling face and the burly figure, that in a rough, caped riding-coat still kept an air of fashion.
From The Great House by Weyman, Stanley John
The pilgrimage, caping Salonen’s “Rituals,” involves dancer and choreographer Dimitri Chamblas, producer Kate Nordstrom and composer Tim Hecker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
"Superpower" has everything a doubting public could want in the way of reassurance, with its determined hero caping for an embattled nation and who happens to be a huge fan of its president.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2023
In others, however, the writers ply exhausted tropes conflating inclusive storytelling with white savior caping.
From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2023
All this somehow makes its history-inspired fabrication feel genuine and universal, caping the philosophy that ideals that make the common man super.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2022
This caping technique, which should be done before field dressing to avoid bloodying the hair and making invasive cuts that will be difficult for the taxidermist to conceal, leaves enough hide for a shoulder mount.
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
