Cape Meaning
/keɪp/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into a sea or lake; a promontory; a headland.
nounA sleeveless garment or part of a garment, hanging from the neck over the back, arms, and shoulders.
Sentence Examples
Cape Dezhnev is 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
The ship sailed around the cape.
There a cape pushes out into the sea.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She wore a long red ____ over her shoulders to keep warm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The superhero wore a long red ____ that flowed behind him as he ran.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English cape, gappe, cap, from Old French cap (“cape, headland”), from Latin caput (“head”). Doublet of capo, caput, chef, and chief, and distantly with head and Howth. For sense development, compare English ness (“a promontory point, cape”) from a root related to nose, Bulgarian нос (nos) (the same PIE root). Also compare coast (<< Latin costa).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […] Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas."
— 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
"Rows and rows of booths and pavilions stretch across the floor, draped with glowing holograms and shifting signs beckoning capes to try their wares. Bystander insurance. Hypertech components. Mystical ingredients. Training DVDs ..."
— 2017, April Daniels, Dreadnought: Nemesis - Book One, Diversion Books, →ISBN:
"“I became a novillero when I was fourteen, but I had already been going to the fields and caping bulls since I was about twelve.""
— 2013, Odie Hawkins, The Black Matador, "Sugar", AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 140:
"A lot of African-Americans believe the answer is Clinton, mostly because "she's not Trump" and because President Barack Obama is shamelessly caping for her."
— 2016, Ken Makin, “Clinton-Trump debacle underscores gross misunderstanding of politics”, in Urban Pro Weekly, 6 October - 12 October 2016, page 5:
"[…] Biden is the old man who once caped for systematic racism; […]"
— 2019 April 3, Julian Lutz, “Elizabeth Warren has authenticity”, in The Hawk, Saint Joseph's University, page 8:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She wore a long red ____ over her shoulders to keep warm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The superhero wore a long red ____ that flowed behind him as he ran.