captain
captain
(kăpʹtən) noun
1.
Abbr. Capt. One who commands, leads, or guides others, especially: a. The officer in command of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft. b. A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief. c. The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.
2. Abbr. Capt., Cpt., CPT a. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above first lieutenant and below major. b. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard that is above commander and below rear admiral. c. One who holds the rank of captain.
3. A figure in the forefront; a leader: a captain of industry.
4. One who supervises or directs the work of others, especially: a. A district official for a political party. b. A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating. c. A bell captain.
verb
, transitive
captained
, captaining, captains
To act as captain of; command or direct: captained the football team.
[Middle English capitain, from Old French, from Late Latin capitāneus, chief, from Latin caput, capit-, head.]
cap
ʹtaincy noun
cap
ʹtainship noun