cap¹ / kap/ • n. 1. a kind of soft, flat hat without a brim, and sometimes having a visor. ∎  a kind of soft, close-fitting head covering worn for a particular purpose or as a mark of a particular profession or status: a bathing cap. ∎  an academic mortarboard: graduates in cap and gown.2. a protective lid or cover for an object such as a bottle or a camera lens. ∎  Dentistry an artificial protective covering for a tooth. ∎  the top of a bird's head when distinctively colored. ∎  the broad upper part of the fruiting body of most mushrooms and toadstools, at the top of a stem.3. an upper limit imposed on spending or other activities: a cap on legal immigration.4. short for percussion cap.• v. (capped, cap·ping) [tr.] 1. put a lid or cover on: he capped his pen. ∎  (often be capped) form a covering layer or top part of: several towers were capped by domes| [as adj. , in comb.] (-capped) snow-capped mountains. ∎  put an artificial protective covering on (a tooth). ∎  provide a fitting climax or conclusion to: he capped a memorable season by becoming champion. ∎  follow or reply to (a story, remark, or joke) by producing a better or more apposite one: they capped each other's stories.2. (often be capped) place a limit or restriction on (prices, expenditure, or other activity).PHRASES: cap (or hat) in hand humbly asking for a favor: we have to go cap in hand begging for funds.set one's cap for (or at) dated (of a woman) try to attract (a particular man) as a suitor.DERIVATIVES: cap·ful / -ˌfoŏl/ n. (pl. -fuls) .cap² / kap/ • n. Finance short for capitalization: mid-cap companies | small-cap stocks.