/kap"i tl/ , n.
1. the building in Washington, D.C., used by the Congress of the U.S. for its sessions.
2. ( often l.c. ) a building occupied by a state legislature.
3. the ancient temple of Jupiter at Rome, on the Capitoline.
4. the Capitoline.
[ 1690-1700, Amer.; capitolium temple of Jupiter on Capitoline hill, Rome, taken to be a derivative of caput head; r. ME capitolie ]
Usage . See capital 1 .