captain

[kap-tuh n, -tin]

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noun

a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.

an officer ranking in most armies above a first lieutenant and below a major.

an officer in the U.S. Navy ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral or a commodore.

a military leader.

an officer in the police department, ranking above a lieutenant and usually below an inspector.

an officer of the fire department, usually in command of a company, ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief or assistant chief.

the commander of a merchant vessel.Compare staff captain.

the pilot of an airplane.

a local official in a political party responsible for organizing votes on a ward or precinct level.

Sports. the field leader of a team: The captain of the home team elected to receive on the kickoff.

a person of great power and influence, especially based on economic wealth.

headwaiter.

bell captain.

South Midland and Southern U.S. an unofficial title of respect for a man (sometimes used humorously or ironically).

verb (used with object)

to lead or command as a captain.

Nearby words

Origin of captain

1325–75; Middle English capitain < Anglo-French capitain, captayn < Late Latin capitāneus chief, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput) head + -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous

Related formssub·cap·tain, nounun·cap·tained, adjectiveun·der·cap·tain, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for captain

He flew with Captain Irianto, 53, who had 20,000 hours experience, more than 6,000 hours on the A320.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My nickname was Captain, though I was a private, first class.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They castigated the captain, a 48-year-old Indonesian, and his rookie copilot, a 24-year-old Indian.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the captain made the call to abandon ship, 150 people were able to escape on lifeboats lowered by electronic arms.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I believe there was a captain aboard, but Hughes kept throwing him out of the cockpit.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finding that the propeller would now work, Captain Williamson gave orders for full speed astern.
First at the North Pole|Edward Stratemeyer
Captain Zoss was ahead of the others and was on top of the cliff when Earl shouted to him.
To Alaska for Gold|Edward Stratemeyer
"There be scores of inns near the river," said the captain to the girl.
Captain Ravenshaw|Robert Neilson Stephens
"I hope you have made no mistake, my lad," anxiously said Captain Daly.
Wizard Will|Prentiss Ingraham
They were quickly taken to private rooms, where the captain was attended by a police surgeon.
The Captain's Toll-Gate|Frank R. Stockton

British Dictionary definitions for captain

captain

noun

the person in charge of and responsible for a vessel

an officer of the navy who holds a rank junior to a rear admiral but senior to a commander

an officer of the army, certain air forces, and the marine corps who holds a rank junior to a major but senior to a lieutenant

the officer in command of a civil aircraft, usually the senior pilot

the leader of a team in games

a person in command over a group, organization, etc; leadera captain of industry

US a police officer in charge of a precinct

US and Canadian (formerly) a head waiter

Also called: bell captain US and Canadian a supervisor of bellboys in a hotel

Australian informal a person who is buying drinks for people in a bar

verb

(tr) to be captain of

Derived Formscaptaincy or captainship, noun

Word Origin for captain

C14: from Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitāneus chief, from Latin caput head

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for captain

captain

late 14c., capitayn, "a leader, chief, one who stands at the head of others," from Old French capitaine "captain, leader," from Late Latin capitaneus "chief," noun use of adjective capitaneus "prominent, chief," from Latin caput (genitive capitis) "head" (see capitulum).

Military sense of "officer who commands a company" (rank between major and lieutenant) is from 1560s; naval sense of "officer who commands a man-of-war" is from 1550s, extended to "master or commander of a vessel of any kind" by 1704. Sporting sense is first recorded 1823.

captain

1590s, from captain (n.). Related: Captained; captaining.

captain

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of captain

Examples from the Web for captain

captain

noun

verb

Word Origin for captain

captain

captain