cap
cap Lexical Profile
cap Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A soft, close-fitting head covering, typically without a brim but often featuring a front visor.
"He pulled the baseball cap down over his eyes to block the bright afternoon sun."
A small lid or cover used to seal a container, such as a bottle, tube, or pen.
"Make sure you screw the cap back onto the toothpaste tube so it doesn't dry out."
An officially imposed upper limit on spending, prices, interest rates, or other measurable activities.
"The local government introduced a salary cap for public executives to manage the budget deficit."
• verb
To place an upper limit on a quantifiable measure, such as prices, spending, or emissions.
"The university decided to cap its annual tuition increases at three percent."
To put a lid, cover, or protective top on an object or container.
"The lab technician carefully capped the test tube before placing it in the centrifuge."
To provide a fitting climax, conclusion, or finishing touch to an event or sequence.
"She capped off an extraordinary season by winning the championship match in straight sets."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern internet and youth slang (derived from African American Vernacular English), 'cap' is frequently used as a noun meaning 'a lie' or a verb meaning 'to lie', famously popularized in the phrase 'no cap' (meaning 'no lie' or 'for real').
• Rhymes for cap
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'cæppe' (hood, head-covering), which derives from Late Latin 'cappa' (a cape, hooded cloak). The figurative sense of an 'upper limit' emerged in the mid-20th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.