Noun

1. An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
2. A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.
3. A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to an Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.
4. The person lawfully in command of a vessel.

   The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.

5. The person lawfully in command of an airliner.

   This is your captain speaking. Please fasten your safety belts.

6. One of the athletes on a sports team who designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.
7. The leader of a group of workers.

   John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."

8. A maître d'.
   • 1977, Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, lyricists, "Hotel California",

     So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine."

     He said: "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969."

9. An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.

Synonyms

Verb

1. To act as captain
2. To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Related terms

• chapiter
• chapter
• capital
• capitalism
• capitulate
• capitulation