CAP


Meaning of CAP in English

I. ˈkap noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Late Latin cappa head covering, cloak

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : a head covering especially with a visor and no brim

b. : a distinctive head covering emblematic of a position or office: as

(1) : a cardinal's biretta

(2) : mortarboard

2. : a natural cover or top: as

a. : an overlying rock layer that is usually hard to penetrate

b.

(1) : pileus

(2) : calyptra

c. : the top of a bird's head or a patch of distinctively colored feathers in this area

3.

a. : something that serves as a cover or protection especially for a tip, knob, or end

a bottle cap

b. : a fitting for closing the end of a tube (as a water pipe or electric conduit)

c. British : cervical cap

d. : an artificial crown for a tooth

4. : an overlaying or covering structure

5. : a paper or metal container holding an explosive charge (as for a toy pistol)

6. : an upper limit (as on expenditures) : ceiling

7. : the symbol ∩ indicating the intersection of two sets — compare cup 9

8. : a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule

- cap in hand

II. verb

( capped ; cap·ping )

Date: 15th century

transitive verb

1.

a. : to provide or protect with a cap

b. : to give a cap to as a symbol of honor, rank, or achievement

2. : to form a cap over : crown

the mountains were capped with mist — John Buchan

3.

a. : to follow with something more noticeable or more significant : outdo

b. : to bring to a climax or conclusion

cap off the show with a song

4. : to form a chemical cap on

5. : to prevent from growing or spreading : set an upper limit on

cap oil prices

6. : to supply (a tooth) with an artificial crown

intransitive verb

: to form or produce a chemical cap

III. noun

Etymology: short for capsule

Date: 1942

: a small amount of an illegal or legally regulated drug ; especially : a small amount of a drug enclosed in a capsule

IV. noun

Date: 1982

: capitalization 1d

V. abbreviation

1. capacity

2. capital

3. capitalize; capitalized

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.