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.
Later, he even emerged wearing a cape emblazoned with the words The Romantic, which appeared to nod to soul legend James Brown.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
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
And who should arrive to put a button on the story but Superman, welcoming his cousin back to Metropolis with open arms and a flowing cape.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
Stone wore a sequined gold jumpsuit, unzipped to the bottom of his chest, with a matching shiny cape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
Plunging his hand into his cape, he drew out a mangy brown mouse.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
The trip from Sidi Kerir through the Mediterranean Sea, around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and out to Asia adds some 20 to 30 days to voyages, depending on their final destination in Asia.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The experienced keeper become a cult hero and attracted millions of new followers on social media after Cape Verde claimed their first-ever World Cup point against Spain in the group stage.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Two other ships, the BRP Datu Cabaylo and the BRP Cape San Agustin, were also targeted with water cannon but not hit, the coast guard said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Jahnavi Shah and her software-company colleagues recently spent three days on Cape Cod.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Are the seals coming back to Cape Cod?”
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
Mobile phone footage of the incident was shared on social media, with people praising the "barbershop Batman", "haircut hero", and "caped crusader".
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2024
Created in 1919, the famed 19th century California vigilante is best known for his sword fighting and signature black mask; he’s arguably a pioneering caped crusader.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024
They were some distance from Laurel Cottage when Harborne, who carried the caped coat on his arm, exclaimed: "By the way, who has the orchid?"
From The Sins of Séverac Bablon by Rohmer, Sax
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.
