ˈkæptɪn n. & v. --n. 1 a a
chief or
leader. b
the leader of a
team,
esp. in sports. c a
powerful or
influential person (captain of industry). 2 a the person in
command of a
merchant or
passenger ship. b the
pilot of a
civil aircraft. 3 (as a
title Captain) a an
army or US
Air Force
officer next above lieutenant. b a
Navy officer in command of a
warship;
one ranking below commodore or rear
admiral and above
commander. c US a
police officer in
charge of a
precinct, ranking below Chief Officer. 4 a a
foreman. b a
head boy or
girl in a school. c US a supervisor of waiters or bellboys. 5 a a
great soldier or strategist. b an
experienced commander. --v.tr. be captain
of; lead. øcaptain-general an
honorary officer, esp. of
artillery. Captain of the Fleet
Brit. a Navy staff officer in charge of
maintenance. øøcaptaincy n. (pl. -ies). captainship n. [ME & OF capitain f. LL capitaneus chief f. L caput capithead]