captain
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
How often you will meet it
Rank 369 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 54,328 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.026% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
- the naval officer in command of a military ship also: skipper
- a policeman in charge of a precinct also: police captain, police chief
- an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship also: master, sea captain, skipper
- the leader of a group of people also: chieftain a captain of industry
- the pilot in charge of an airship also: senior pilot
verb
- be the captain of a sports team
captain in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Probably, Captain Kidd had started in a small way.
The Intrusion of Jimmy · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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But alas! my dear friend the captain soon departed this life after his arrival.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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The captain reported to Violet, then passed on into the apartments of his little daughters.
Christmas with Grandma Elsie · Martha Finley · Chapter 1
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The crew captain and the foot-ball captain are almost inevitably taken for Skull and Bones.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Her captain was now a colonel, and was about to become a member of the government; at least, so she assured me.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1