often attributive
1
a
: a head covering especially with a visor and no brim
b
: a distinctive head covering emblematic of a position or office: such as
(1)
: a cardinal's biretta
(2)
2
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
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
a cap on military spending
7
: the symbol ∩ indicating the intersection of two sets compare cup sense 9
8
: a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
capped; capping
1
a
: to provide or protect with a cap
cap a bottle
b
: to give a cap to as a symbol of honor, rank, or achievement
2
: to form a cap over : crown
mountains capped with mist
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
: to form or produce a chemical cap
: a small amount of an illegal or legally regulated drug
especially
: a small amount of a drug enclosed in a capsule
a cap of cocaine
plural caps
2
: a capital letter
—usually plural
a message written in caps
According to [linguist Deborah] Tannen, women's preference for expressive hashtags is "similar to their using exclamation points, caps, and repetition of letters to show emphasis, and to the fact that women's spoken intonation patterns tend to vary more than men's."—
Jessica Bennett
Jessica BennettGood netiquette includes not using all caps [=exclusively capital letters] when typing, as it comes across as shouting.—John DeGarmo
John DeGarmo1
capacity
2
capital
3
capitalize; capitalized
1
Civil Air Patrol
2
combat air patrol
Synonyms
Examples of cap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
grabbed a cap and plopped it on his head before running out
I can't find the cap to the milk bottle
a cap on player salary expenditures was suggested as a way to keep small market teams competitive
Verb
a pipe capped at one end
Be sure to cap the pen when you are done using it.
The report caps a ten-year study of lung cancer among nonsmokers.
a concert capped by a fantastic fireworks display
If the teams don't cap player salaries, the league won't survive.
The law would cap legal immigration.
The government wants to cap councils that spend too much.
Noun (2)
I prefer to take my medicine as caps rather than in liquid form
Recent Examples on the Web
Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
That cap was not discarded, Ross surmised, because Jose Ibarra could not see that there was actually blood on it.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The insurance company had argued its liability for the entire attack should be capped at $5 million.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cap 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Senator Abraham, who chaired the Senate immigration subcommittee, lost his race for reelection in November 2000, so discussions began with Rep. Lamar Smith, chair of the House immigration subcommittee, and his staff about increasing the H-1B cap.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
That cap was not discarded, Ross surmised, because Jose Ibarra could not see that there was actually blood on it.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
And to cap off your meal, a trio of desserts: pumpkin ice cream, apple pecan crumble and rich milk jam.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The insurance company had argued its liability for the entire attack should be capped at $5 million.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cap
Articles Related to cap
Dictionary Entries Near cap
Cite this Entry
“Cap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cap. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cap
1 of 2 noun1
: a head covering
especially
: one that has a visor and no brim
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection for something
a bottle cap
3
: a natural cover or top: as
a
: the umbrella-shaped part that bears the spores of a mushroom
b
: the top of a bird's head
4
: a paper or metal container holding a small explosive charge (as for a toy pistol)
cap
2 of 2 verb
capped; capping
1
: to cover or provide with a cap
2
: to follow with something : outdo
3
: to bring to a conclusion
capped off the show with a song
4
: to prevent from growing or spreading : set a limit on
capped oil prices
Etymology
Noun
Middle English cappe "cap," from Old English cæppe "cap," from Latin cappa "head covering, cloak" — related to cape entry 2, chapel
Medical Definition
cap
1 of 3 nounoften attributive
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection especially for a tip, knob, or end (as of a tooth)
3
British
: cervical cap
4
: a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
the cell surface receptors were redistributed into caps
cap
2 of 3 verb
capped; capping
1
: to invest (a student nurse) with a cap as an indication of completion of a probationary period of study
2
: to cover (a diseased or exposed part of a tooth) with a protective substance
3
: to form a chemical cap on
the capped end of a messenger RNA
: to form or produce a chemical cap
cap
3 of 3 abbreviation1
capacity
2
capsule
Legal Definition
cap
noun
: an upper limit
a jury found that KAL had committed “willful misconduct,” thus removing the Warsaw Convention's $75,000 cap on damages—Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)
Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)
cap
verb
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