can|ti|lever /kæ nt I liːvə r / (cantilevers ) N‑COUNT A cantilever is a long piece of metal or wood used in a structure such as a bridge. One end is fastened to something and the other end is used to support part of the structure. □ …the old steel cantilever bridge.
can|ti|levered /kæ nt I liːvə r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A cantilevered structure is constructed using cantilevers. □ …a cantilevered balcony.
can|ton /kæ ntɒn/ (cantons ) N‑COUNT A canton is a political or administrative region in some countries, for example Switzerland. □ …the Swiss canton of Berne.
Can|ton|ese /kæ ntəniː z/ (Cantonese )
1 ADJ Cantonese means belonging or relating to the Chinese provinces of Canton (Guangdong in Mandarin).
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The Cantonese are the people who come from the Chinese provinces of Canton (Guangdong in Mandarin).
3 N‑UNCOUNT Cantonese is the language spoken in the Chinese provinces of Guango, Kwansai, and Hong Kong, as well as in other parts of the world.
can|ton|ment /kæntuː nmənt, [AM ] -toʊ n-/ (cantonments ) N‑COUNT A cantonment is a group of buildings or a camp where soldiers live.
can|vas /kæ nvəs/ (canvases )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Canvas is a strong, heavy cloth that is used for making things such as tents, sails, and bags. □ …a canvas bag.
2 N‑VAR A canvas is a piece of canvas or similar material on which an oil painting can be done.
3 N‑COUNT A canvas is a painting that has been done on canvas. □ [+ by ] The show includes canvases by masters like Carpaccio, Canaletto and Guardi.
can|vass /kæ nvəs/ (canvasses , canvassing , canvassed )
1 VERB If you canvass for a particular person or political party, you go around an area trying to persuade people to vote for that person or party. □ [V + for ] I'm canvassing for the Conservative Party. ● can|vass|er (canvassers ) N‑COUNT □ …a Conservative canvasser.
2 VERB If you canvass public opinion, you find out how people feel about a particular subject. □ [V n] Members of Parliament are spending the weekend canvassing opinion in their constituencies.
can|yon /kæ njən/ (canyons ) N‑COUNT A canyon is a long, narrow valley with very steep sides. □ …the Grand Canyon.
cap ◆◇◇ /kæ p/ (caps , capping , capped )
1 N‑COUNT A cap is a soft, flat hat with a curved part at the front which is called a peak. Caps are usually worn by men and boys. □ …a dark-blue baseball cap.
2 N‑COUNT A cap is a special hat which is worn as part of a uniform. □ …a frontier guard in olive-grey uniform and a peaked cap.
3 VERB [usu passive] If a sports player is capped , they are chosen to represent their country in a team game such as football, rugby, or cricket. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] Rees, 32, has been capped for England 23 times. □ [V -ed] …England's most capped rugby union player.
4 N‑COUNT If a sports player represents their country in a team game such as football, rugby, or cricket, you can say that they have been awarded a cap . [BRIT ] □ [+ for ] He will win his first cap for Wales in Sunday's Test match against Australia.
5 VERB If the government caps an organization, council, or budget, it limits the amount of money that the organization or council is allowed to spend, or limits the size of the budget. □ [V n] The Secretary of State for Environment has the power to cap councils which spend excessively.
6 N‑COUNT The cap of a bottle is its lid. □ [+ of ] She unscrewed the cap of her water bottle and gave him a drink.
7 N‑COUNT A cap is a circular rubber device that a woman places inside her vagina to prevent herself from becoming pregnant. [BRIT ]
8 VERB If someone says that a good or bad event caps a series of events, they mean it is the final event in the series, and the other events were also good or bad. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] The win capped a fine tournament for the Irish team.
9 VERB [usu passive] If someone's teeth are capped , covers are fixed over them so that they look better. □ [be V -ed] He suddenly smiled, revealing teeth that had recently been capped. □ [have n V -ed] I had my teeth capped.
10 → see also ice cap
ca|pa|bil|ity /ke I pəb I l I ti/ (capabilities )
1 N‑VAR [oft adj N , N to-inf] If you have the capability or the capabilities to do something, you have the ability or the qualities that are necessary to do it. □ People experience differences in physical and mental capability depending on the time of day. □ The standards set four years ago will be far below the athletes' capabilities now.
2 N‑VAR [usu adj N , N to-inf] A country's military capability is its ability to fight in a war. □ Their military capability has been reduced.
ca|pable ◆◇◇ /ke I pəb ə l/
1 ADJ If a person or thing is capable of doing something, they have the ability to do it. □ [+ of ] He appeared hardly capable of conducting a coherent conversation. □ [+ of ] The kitchen is capable of catering for several hundred people.
2 ADJ Someone who is capable has the skill or qualities necessary to do a particular thing well, or is able to do most things well. □ She's a very capable speaker. □ Sam was a highly capable manager. ● ca|pably /ke I pəbli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ Happily it was all dealt with very capably by the police and security people. SYNONYMS capable ADJ 2