/ kæp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
HAT
1.
a type of soft flat hat with a peak (= a hard curved part sticking out in front). Caps are worn especially by men and boys, often as part of a uniform :
a school cap
—see also baseball cap , cloth cap , mob cap
2.
(usually in compounds) a soft hat that fits closely and is worn for a particular purpose :
a shower cap
3.
a soft hat with a square flat top worn by some university teachers and students at special ceremonies
—compare mortar board
IN SPORT
4.
( BrE ) a cap given to sb who is chosen to play for a school, country, etc.; a player chosen to play for their country, etc. :
He won his first cap (= was first chosen to play) for England against France.
There are three new caps in the side.
ON PEN / BOTTLE
5.
a cover or top for a pen, bottle, etc. :
a lens cap
—picture at tube
—see also filler cap , hubcap ➡ note at lid
LIMIT ON MONEY
6.
an upper limit on an amount of money that can be spent or borrowed by a particular institution or in a particular situation :
The government has placed a cap on local council spending.
IN TOY GUNS
7.
a small paper container with explosive powder inside it, used especially in toy guns
FOR WOMAN
8.
( BrE ) = diaphragm (2)
—see also ice cap , thinking cap
•
IDIOMS
- go cap in hand (to sb)
- if the cap fits (, wear it)
—more at feather noun
■ verb
( -pp- ) [ vn ]
COVER TOP
1.
[ usually passive ] cap sth (with sth) to cover the top or end of sth with sth :
mountains capped with snow
snow-capped mountains
LIMIT MONEY
2.
[ often passive ] ( especially BrE ) to limit the amount of money that can be charged for sth or spent on sth :
a capped mortgage
BEAT
3.
( especially BrE ) to say or do sth that is funnier, more impressive, etc. than sth that has been said or done before :
What an amazing story. Can anyone cap that?
TOOTH
4.
[ usually passive ] to put an artificial covering on a tooth to make it look more attractive :
He's had his front teeth capped.
SYN crown
IN SPORT
5.
[ usually passive ] ( BrE ) to choose sb to play in their country's national team for a particular sport :
He has been capped more than 30 times for Wales.
•
IDIOMS
- to cap / top it all
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English cæppe hood , from late Latin cappa , perhaps from Latin caput head.