cap

A small hat that fits closely around your head, often with a stiff front edge.

• He wears a red cap.
• She took off her cap indoors.
• The players threw their caps into the air.

Similar words: hat

Common phrases: baseball cap, wear a cap, flat cap

A small cover that closes or protects the end of a bottle, pen, pipe, or similar object.

• Put the cap on the bottle.
• I lost the cap of my pen.
• These plastic caps keep dirt out of the pipes.

Similar words: lid, cover

Common phrases: bottle cap, pen cap, remove the cap

The highest amount or level officially allowed.

• The company introduced a spending cap.
• A cap on ticket prices helped families.
• The government raised the cap last year.

How to use it: cap on something (There is a cap on annual rent increases.)

Similar words: limit, ceiling

Common phrases: spending cap, cap on something, price cap

The broad top part of a mushroom.

• The mushroom has a brown cap.
• Small drops of water covered the caps.
• Look underneath the cap to see the gills.

Common phrases: mushroom cap, cap and stem, rounded cap

An artificial cover placed over a damaged tooth.

• My tooth needs a cap.
• The dentist fitted two porcelain caps.
• His gold cap showed when he smiled.

How to use it: cap on a tooth (The dentist put a cap on my broken tooth.)

Similar words: crown

Common phrases: dental cap, gold cap, cap on something

A small explosive device used to make a larger amount of explosive go off.

• The cap sets off the larger charge.
• Workers checked the blasting caps before use.
• A faulty cap prevented the explosion.

Similar words: detonator

Common phrases: blasting cap, detonator cap, explosive cap

To set the highest amount or level that is allowed.

• They plan to cap spending.
• Rent increases were capped at three percent.
• Should the government cap energy prices?

How to use it: cap something at an amount (The council capped the fee at twenty pounds.)

Similar words: limit, restrict

Common phrases: cap spending, cap something at, cap rent increases

To close or protect something by putting a cover on its end or top.

• Cap the bottle after use.
• The plumber capped the leaking pipe.
• All the containers were capped tightly.

Similar words: seal, cover, close

Opposites: uncap

Common phrases: cap a bottle, cap a pipe, cap a pen