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captain

cap·tain

captain

 
 
pronunciation:
kaep tihn
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a leader.
He was a captain of industry.
synonyms:
chief, leader
similar words:
chieftain, commander, head, headman, master, officer, pilot
definition 2: the chief officer of a merchant vessel or a commercial airplane.
Due to the damage to the ship's engines, the captain ordered a return to port.
 
similar words:
chief, master, officer, old man, pilot, shipmaster, skipper
definition 3: a commissioned officer of the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marines holding the rank immediately below major.
similar words:
commandant, commander, commanding officer, officer
definition 4: a commissioned officer of the U.S. Navy holding the rank immediately below rear admiral.
similar words:
commandant, commander, commanding officer, officer, old man
definition 5: a police officer holding a rank above lieutenant.
similar words:
officer
definition 6: the field leader of a sports team.
synonyms:
leader
similar words:
boss, chief
definition 7: the chief waiter in a restaurant, or the chief bellhop in a hotel.
synonyms:
headwaiter, maître d'
similar words:
bellboy, bellhop, head, waiter
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part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: captains, captaining, captained
definition: to lead as captain.
synonyms:
head, lead, pilot, skipper, steer
similar words:
boss, command
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: captaincy (n.), captainship (n.)
Word History
The word captain comes from a Latin word that means "head."
Word Explorer
See
  airplane, boat, game, military, sport
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