Captain Meaning
/ˈkæp.tɪn/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA chief or leader.
nounThe person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
Sentence Examples
The captain will go to the meteorological office to get a weather briefing.
We cheered for him and chose him as our captain.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team's ____ gave a motivational speech before the championship match.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the ship made sure everything was ready for the long voyage.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English capitain, capteyn, from Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput (“head”) (English cap). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Doublet of chieftain, also from Old French.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"For out of the shal come a captaine, whych shall govern my people israhel."
— 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew ij:
"Stand up-stand up, Northumberland! / I bid you answer true, / If England's King has under his hand / A Captain as good as you?"
— 1929, Rudyard Kipling, The English Way:
"Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, […] naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter."
— 1873, Jules Verne, chapter I, in [anonymous], transl., Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas; […], James R. Osgood edition, Boston, Mass.: Geo[rge] M[urray] Smith & Co., →OCLC, part I, page 3:
""A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…].""
— 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"Captain's supposed to be the leader, right?"
— 2000, Gregory Allen Howard, Remember the Titans:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team's ____ gave a motivational speech before the championship match.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the ship made sure everything was ready for the long voyage.