Main Entry: ¹cap

Pronunciation: \ˈkap\

Function: 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

— cap in hand : in a respectful, humble, or sometimes fearful manner