/ ˈkæptɪn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
the person in charge of a ship or commercial aircraft :
Captain Cook
The captain gave the order to abandon ship.
2.
an officer of fairly high rank in the navy, the army and the US air force :
Captain Lance Price
—see also group captain
3.
the leader of a group of people, especially a sports team :
She was captain of the hockey team at school.
4.
an officer of high rank in a US police or fire department
■ verb
[ vn ] to be a captain of a sports team or a ship
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the general sense chief or leader ): from Old French capitain (superseding earlier chevetaigne chieftain), from late Latin capitaneus chief, from Latin caput , capit- head.