Definition of captain in English

WordNet

Noun Plural: captains
captain - the naval officer in command of a military ship
		skipper
		commissioned naval officer a commissioned officer in the navy
		armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
captain - a policeman in charge of a precinct
		police captain, police chief
		police officer, policeman, officer a member of a police force; "it was an accident, officer"
		chief constable the head of the police force in a county (or similar area)
captain - the pilot in charge of an airship
		senior pilot
		airplane pilot, pilot someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
captain - an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
		commissioned military officer a commissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marine Corps
		armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
captain - the leader of a group of people; "a captain of industry"
		chieftain
		leader a person who rules or guides or inspires others
captain - a dining-room attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers
		headwaiter, maitre d'hotel, maitre d'
captain - an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
		master, sea captain, skipper
		ship's officer, officer a person authorized to serve in a position of authority on a vessel; "he is the officer in charge of the ship's engines"
Verb captains, captaining, captained
captain - be the captain of a sports team
		head, lead remove the head of; "head the fish"

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Wiktionary

captain (Noun)
A chief or leader.
captain (Noun)
The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
captain (Noun)
An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
captain (Noun)
A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.
captain (Noun)
A commissioned officer in the United States Navy , United States Coast Coast Guard , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned NOAA Corps , or Public Health Service Commissioned 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 United States Army , United States Marine Marine Corps , or United States Air Air Force colonel.
captain (Noun)
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.
captain (Noun)
The leader of a group of workers.
captain (Noun)
A maître d' .
captain (Noun)
An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.
captain (Verb)
To act as captain.
captain (Verb)
To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

captain (n.)
A head, or chief officer
captain (n.)
The military officer who commands a company, troop, or battery, or who has the rank entitling him to do so though he may be employed on other service.
captain (n.)
An officer in the United States navy, next above a commander and below a commodore, and ranking with a colonel in the army.
captain (n.)
By courtesy, an officer actually commanding a vessel, although not having the rank of captain.
captain (n.)
The master or commanding officer of a merchant vessel.
captain (n.)
One in charge of a portion of a ship's company; as, a captain of a top, captain of a gun, etc.
captain (n.)
The foreman of a body of workmen.
captain (n.)
A person having authority over others acting in concert; as, the captain of a boat's crew; the captain of a football team.
captain (n.)
A military leader; a warrior.
captain (v. t.)
To act as captain of; to lead.
captain (a.)
Chief; superior.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

captain
The person lawfully in command of a sea-going vessel.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

captain
kap′tān, or kap′tin, n. a head or chief officer: the commander of a troop of horse, a company of infantry, or a ship: the overseer of a mine: the leader of a team or club: the head-boy of a school.—v.t. to lead.—ns. Cap′taincy, the rank or commission of a captain; Cap′tain-gen′eral, chief commander of an army; Cap′tainship, Cap′tainry (obs.), rank or condition of a captain: skill in commanding. [O. Fr. capitaine—Low L. capitaneus, chief—L. caput, head.]

Marine DictionaryUniversal Dictionary of the Marine ⚓️

captain
of a ship of war, capitaine du haut bord, the officer who commands a ship of the line of battle, or a frigate carrying twenty or more cannon. The charge of a captain in his majesty’s navy is very comprehensive, inasmuch as he is not only answerable for any bad conduct in the military government, navigation, and equipment of the ship he commands; but also for any neglect of duty, or ill management in his inferior officers, whose several charges he is appointed to superintend and regulate.
On his first receiving information of the condition and quality of the ship he is appointed to command, he must attend her constantly, and hasten the necessary preparations to fit her for sea. So strict indeed are the injunctions laid on him by the lord high admiral, or commissioners of the admiralty, that he is forbid to lie out of his ship, from his arrival on board, till the day of his discharge, unless by particular leave from the admiralty, or his commander in chief.
He is enjoined to shew a laudable example of honour and virtue to the officers and men, and to discountenance all dissolute, immoral, and disorderly practices, and such as are contrary to the rules of discipline and subordination, as well as to correct those who are guilty of such offences, as are punishable according to the usage of the sea.
He is ordered particularly to survey all the military stores which are sent on board, and to return whatsoever is deemed unfit for service. His diligence and application are required to procure his complement of men; observing carefully to enter only such as are fit for the necessary duty, that the government may not be put to improper expence. When his ship is fully manned, he is expected to keep the established number of men complete, and superintend the muster himself, if there is no clerk of the check at the port.
When his ship is employed on a cruising station, he is expected to keep the sea the whole length of time previously appointed; but if he is compelled by some unexpected accident to return to port sooner than the limited time, he ought to be very cautious in the choice of a good situation for anchoring, ordering the master, or other careful officers, to sound, and discover the depths of water, and dangers of the coast.
Previous to any possibility of engagement with an enemy, he is to quarter the officers and men to the necessary stations according to their office or abilities, and to exercise them in the management of the artillery, that they may be more expert in the time of battle. See the articles EXERCISE and QUARTERS.
His station in an engagement is on the quarter-deck; at which time he is expected to take all opportunities of annoying his enemy, and improving every advantage over him; to exhibit an example of courage and fortitude to his officers and crew; and to place his ship opposite to his adversary in such a position as that every cannon shall do effectual execution. See ENGAGEMENT.
At the time of his arrival in port after his return from abroad, he is to assemble his officers, and draw up a detail of the observations that have been made during the voyage; of the qualities of the ship, as to her trim, ballast, stowage, and manner of sailing, for the information and direction of those who may succeed in command; and this account is to be signed by himself and officers, and to be returned to the resident commissioner of the navy at the port where the ship is discharged.

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

captain
This title is said to be derived from the eastern military magistrate katapan, meaning "over everything;" but the term capitano was in use among the Italians nearly 200 years before Basilius II. appointed his katapan of Apulia and Calabria, A.D. 984. Hence, the corruption of the Apulian province into capitanata. Among the Anglo-Saxons the captain was schipp-hláford, or ship's lord. The captain, strictly speaking, is the officer commanding a line-of-battle ship, or a frigate carrying twenty or more cannon. A captain in the royal navy is answerable for any bad conduct in the military government, navigation, and equipment of his ship; also for any neglect of duty in his inferior officers, whose several charges he is appointed to regulate. It is also a title, though incorrectly, given to the masters of all vessels whatever, they having no commissions. It is also applied in the navy itself to the chief sailor of particular gangs of men; in rank, captain of the forecastle, admiral's coxswain, captain's coxswain, captain of the hold, captain of main-top, captain of fore-top, &c.
captain
A name given to the crooner, crowner, or gray gurnard (Trigla gurnardus).

Military DictionaryMilitary Dictionary and Gazetteer 💥

captain
In a limited and technical sense, is the title of an officer who commands a troop of cavalry, a company of infantry, or a battery of artillery. He is the next in rank below a major, and in the U. S. army is responsible for the camp and garrison equipage, the arms, ammunition, and clothing of his company.
There is no position in the army that will give as much satisfaction in return for an honest, capable, and conscientious discharge of his duty as that of captain or commanding officer of a company. There is a reward in having done his full duty to his company, that no disappointment of distinction, no failure can deprive him of; his seniors may overlook him in giving credits, unfortunate circumstances may defeat his fondest hopes, and the crown of laurel may never rest upon his brow, but the reward that follows upon the faithful discharge of his duty to his company he cannot be deprived of by any disaster, neglect, or injustice.
He receives it whenever he looks upon his little command, and sees the harmony, comfort, and discipline that prevail; he feels it when he comes to part with his men in the due course of promotion, or as they individually take their discharge after a faithful service; he remembers it when, in after-years, no matter if rank and honors have in the mean time fallen upon him, he meets an old soldier who, with respect and affection, still calls him his captain.
He is a small sovereign, powerful and great within his little domain, but no imbecile monarch ever suffered more from intrigues, factions, and encroachments than an incapable company commander; no tyrant king must contend more with rebellions, insurrections, and defections than an arbitrary and unjust captain, and no wise and beneficent ruler ever derived more heartfelt homage, more faithful services, or more patriotic devotion than a just, competent, and faithful commander receives from his company. They will love him truly, they will obey him faithfully, and whilst there is life they will stand by him in the hour of battle.
The command of a company divides itself into two kinds of duty, requiring very different capacity, viz., Government and Administration. The former requires force of character, judgment, and discretion, and has often been well performed without much capacity for the latter. Administration requires a certain amount of knowledge absolutely indispensable to a discharge of a duty.
Government.--Under this head may be included instruction in tactics and discipline, the preservation of order and subordination, and the cultivation of a military spirit and pride in the profession among the men. It involves the appointing and reduction of non-commissioned officers, and the subject of rewards and punishments.
Administration.--Providing the clothing and subsistence, and keeping the accounts of soldiers in order, that they may be paid, and attending to the transportation of the men and their supplies, belong under this head. They involve the keeping of the records of the company, and the pay and clothing accounts of the men; the drawing and distributing of supplies, and the care and accountability of public and company property. The efficient administration of the affairs of a company greatly facilitates the discipline and government of the company, makes the men content and cheerful in the performance of their duties, and attaches them to their commander.

Vulgar Tongue DictionaryDictionary of the Vulgar Tongue 👅

captain
Led captain; an humble dependant in a great family, who for a precarious subsistence, and distant hopes of preferment, suffers every kind of indignity, and is the butt of every species of joke or ill-humour. The small provision made for officers of the army and navy in time of peace, obliges many in both services to occupy this wretched station. The idea of the appellation is taken from a led horse, many of which for magnificence appear in the retinues of great personages on solemn occasions, such as processions, &c.

Proverbs DictionaryProverbs Dictionary 📗

captain
Be captain of your own ship.

Wikipedia

A Captain is a military rank. Captains are officers in the army. In the navy, captains command an entire ship. Another type of captain is a commander of a ship who is not in the military. There are also captains in other uniformed organisations, including the police.
sports
In team sports, a captain is a title given to the member of the team who has to make choices about strategy and teamwork while a game is happening.

This is most important when a game's rules say that the coach of a team cannot tell the players what they should do while a game is being played.

In some sports, team captains may have to talk with game officials about the way the rules are applied.