1 N‑UNCOUNT Capricorn is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a goat. People who are born approximately between the 22nd of December and the 19th of January come under this sign.
2 N‑COUNT A Capricorn is a person whose sign of the zodiac is Capricorn.
cap|si|cum /kæ ps I kəm/ (capsicums ) N‑VAR Capsicums are peppers .
cap|size /kæpsa I z, [AM ] kæ psa I z/ (capsizes , capsizing , capsized ) VERB If you capsize a boat or if it capsizes , it turns upside down in the water. □ [V ] The sea got very rough and the boat capsized. □ [V n] I didn't count on his capsizing the raft.
cap|stan /kæ pstən/ (capstans ) N‑COUNT A capstan is a machine consisting of a drum that turns round and pulls in a heavy rope or something attached to a rope, for example an anchor.
cap|sule /kæ psjuːl, [AM ] kæ ps ə l/ (capsules )
1 N‑COUNT A capsule is a very small tube containing powdered or liquid medicine, which you swallow. □ …cod liver oil capsules.
2 N‑COUNT A capsule is a small container with a drug or other substance inside it, which is used for medical or scientific purposes. □ They first implanted capsules into the animals' brains.
3 N‑COUNT A space capsule is the part of a spacecraft in which people travel, and which often separates from the main rocket. □ A Russian space capsule is currently orbiting the Earth.
Capt. N‑TITLE Capt. is a written abbreviation for captain . □ Capt. Hunt asked which engine was on fire.
cap|tain ◆◆◇ /kæ pt I n/ (captains , captaining , captained )
1 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT In the army, navy, and some other armed forces, a captain is an officer of middle rank. □ …Captain Mark Phillips. □ …a captain in the British army. □ Are all your weapons in place, Captain?
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] The captain of a sports team is the player in charge of it. □ The former Australia cricket captain offers a unique insight into his nation's sporting psyche.
3 N‑COUNT The captain of a ship is the sailor in charge of it. □ [+ of ] …the captain of the aircraft carrier Saratoga.
4 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE The captain of an aeroplane is the pilot in charge of it.
5 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In the United States and some other countries, a captain is a police officer or firefighter of fairly senior rank.
6 VERB If you captain a team or a ship, you are the captain of it. □ [V n] Two months later, he captained Pakistan to victory in the World Cup.
cap|tain|cy /kæ pt I nsi/ N‑UNCOUNT The captaincy of a team is the position of being captain. □ [+ of ] His captaincy of the team was ended by mild eye trouble.
ca p|tain of i n|dus|try (captains of industry ) N‑COUNT You can refer to the owners or senior managers of industrial companies as captains of industry .
cap|tcha /kæ ptʃə/ (captchas ) N‑VAR Captcha is a system for checking that a human and not a machine is using a computer. Captcha is an abbreviation for 'completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart'. □ We use captcha to screen for spam.
cap|tion ◆◆◇ /kæ pʃ ə n/ (captions ) N‑COUNT A caption is the words printed underneath a picture or cartoon which explain what it is about. □ On the back of the photo is written the simple caption, 'Mrs. Monroe'.
cap|ti|vate /kæ pt I ve I t/ (captivates , captivating , captivated ) VERB If you are captivated by someone or something, you find them fascinating and attractive. □ [be V -ed + by ] I was captivated by her brilliant mind. □ [V n] For 40 years she has captivated the world with her radiant looks.
cap|ti|vat|ing /kæ pt I ve I t I ŋ/ ADJ Someone or something that is captivating fascinates or attracts you. □ …her captivating smile and alluring looks.
cap|tive /kæ pt I v/ (captives )
1 ADJ A captive person or animal is being kept imprisoned or enclosed. [LITERARY ] □ Her heart had begun to pound inside her chest like a captive animal. ● N‑COUNT A captive is someone who is captive. □ He described the difficulties of surviving for four months as a captive.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A captive audience is a group of people who are not free to leave a certain place and so have to watch or listen. A captive market is a group of people who cannot choose whether or where to buy things. □ We all performed dances before a captive audience of parents and patrons. □ Airlines consider business travellers a captive market.
3 PHRASE If you take someone captive or hold someone captive , you take or keep them as a prisoner. □ Richard was finally released one year after he'd been taken captive.
ca p|tive bree d|ing N‑UNCOUNT Captive breeding is the breeding of wild animals in places such as zoos, especially animals which have become rare in the wild.
cap|tiv|ity /kæpt I v I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in/of N ] Captivity is the state of being kept imprisoned or enclosed. □ The great majority of barn owls are reared in captivity. □ He was released today after more than two months of captivity.
cap|tor /kæ ptə r / (captors ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] You can refer to the person who has captured a person or animal as their captor . □ They did not know what their captors would do.
cap|ture ◆◇◇ /kæ ptʃə r / (captures , capturing , captured )