cap

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Late Latin cappa head covering, cloak Date: before 12th century 1. a. a head covering especially with a visor and no brim b. a distinctive head covering emblematic of a position or office: as (1) a cardinal's biretta (2) mortarboard 2. a natural cover or top: as a. an overlying rock layer that is usually hard to penetrate b. (1) pileus (2) calyptra c. the top of a bird's head or a patch of distinctively colored feathers in this area 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 (as a water pipe or electric conduit) 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 7. the symbol ∩ indicating the intersection of two sets — compare cup 9 8. a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule II. verb (capped; capping) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to provide or protect with a cap b. to give a cap to as a symbol of honor, rank, or achievement 2. to form a cap over ; crown <

the mountains were capped with mist — John Buchan

> 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 intransitive verb to form or produce a chemical cap III. noun Etymology: short for capsule Date: 1942 a small amount of an illegal or legally regulated drug; especially a small amount of a drug enclosed in a capsule IV. noun Date: 1982 capitalization 1d V. abbreviation 1. capacity 2. capital 3. capitalize; capitalized