Meaning & Definition of word "Cap"

Cap

/kæp/

noun:

  • 1. A soft, flat hat without a brim and usually with a peak.
    • Example: He wore a baseball cap to shield his eyes from the sun.
  • 2. A protective cover or lid for a container.
    • Example: Make sure to put the cap back on the bottle after use.
  • 3. A limit or upper boundary placed on something.
    • Example: The government imposed a cap on carbon emissions to combat climate change.
  • 4. An uppermost limit on a numeric value, commonly used in finance.
    • Example: The company set a salary cap for all its employees.

verb:

  • 1. To cover or seal something with a cap.
    • Example: Please cap the pen before putting it away.
  • 2. To surpass or exceed a standard, limit, or maximum.
    • Example: Their performance was so impressive that it capped all previous records.
  • 3. To limit or restrict to a certain level or amount.
    • Example: The bank decided to cap the number of loans for this quarter.

Etymology

From Old English 'cæppe', from Latin 'cāpīta', meaning 'head'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to cap it all:

to complete something in a remarkable way.

cap off:

to finish something in a particular way.

cap-and-gown:

referring to the graduation attire.

put a cap on:

to limit or restrict something.

Related Words

capped:

having a cover or limit placed.

capstone:

the final touch or crowning achievement.

Slang Meanings of cap

Meaning: To lie or exaggerate.

Example Sentence: He's capping if he thinks he can run that fast.

Meaning: To express disbelief or call out a lie.

Example Sentence: No cap, that story sounds made up.