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cap

cap

173 3.3
A maximum limit on money or people allowed
  • noun
  • /kæp/
: límite
  • The government implemented a cap on the maximum amount of caffeine allowed in energy drinks.
  • cap-and-invest
  • cap-and-trade
  • enrollment cap

I now know that there is no cap on the human mind.

Examples

  • The budget problem this year was aggravated by the caps set firmly in place in 1997.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Thus, even where markets exist, they are often regulated with pricing caps or only operate within limited sectors.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I figure a market cap between one and two billion.

  • Well, let's compare that with the market cap of Microsoft.

  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, for example, proposed a cap last year that would limit capital flows.

    Academic text (2011)
  • During the MFVP evaluation program year, there was a 10% cap placed on nonfood costs, which included food preparation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • So while it may prevent further deterioration, the cap is not sufficiently stringent to revitalize the river.

    Academic text (2008)
  • To control expenses, the organization set a firm cap on the annual budget for employee bonuses.

  • There is a strict cap on the number of attendees allowed at the conference due to safety regulations.

Synonyms

capacity
vscap
262 2.2

The maximum amount something can hold or store

is the allowed maximum rather than the physical amount something can hold
ceiling
vscap
141 3.7

An upper limit on the amount or number allowed

is used especially for money or for limits on numbers of people
quota
vscap
134 3.8

A fixed official limit on how much of something is allowed

is a general maximum limit rather than an official allocation
limitation
vscap
73 3.5

A rule that controls how much or how many of something there can be

is a fixed maximum amount rather than a controlling rule
upper limit
vscap
9 3.2

The highest allowed amount or value of something

is used especially for money amounts or number limits
roof
vscap
9 6.7

An upper limit on how much money can be used or paid

is used more broadly for money amounts and people limits

Antonyms

231 1.6

The smallest amount or number allowed

Idioms

to bust a cap
  • Offensive
11 9.9

Shoot someone with a gun, often during violence or threats

cap-a-pie
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Completely dressed from head to foot

7.7

In a humble way when asking for help or forgiveness

6.3

An achievement you can be proud of

To make a big decision you cannot change that may be risky

9.9

To try to get someone to marry you

Compounds

47 1.2

A soft hat with a rounded top and a stiff front bill to shield the eyes

22 3.4

A thick layer of ice and snow that always covers large land areas like the poles or mountain tops

blasting cap
  • Specialized
13 7.9

A small device that makes a larger explosive go off

9 1.3

A waterproof cap you wear over your hair to keep it dry while showering

thinking cap
  • Informal
8 5.3

A quiet, focused way of thinking to solve a problem

small cap
  • Specialized
6 6.3

A company on the stock market with a small market value

6 2.6

A cover that you put on a camera lens to protect it from dust and damage

4 3.6

A tight knitted wool cap that covers the head and ears, often with a point or tassel

large cap
  • Jargon
3 4.4

A company worth more than about ten billion dollars

distributor cap
  • Specialized
3 6.9

A protective cover in a car engine that holds the wires to the spark plugs

ski cap
  • UK
2 1.3

A close-fitting wool hat that keeps the head and ears warm

small-cap
  • Specialized
2 7.0

A company or stock with a small market value, often under one billion dollars

2 2.5

A close-fitting cap worn to keep the hair dry while swimming

2 9.2

A pointed paper hat teachers put on a student as punishment in old classrooms

2 4.5

A close-fitting knitted hat worn in cold weather, often by sailors

coonskin cap
  • Archaic
2 9.9

A hat made from raccoon fur with the tail hanging down the back

1 1.0

A tight hat that keeps hair dry while you swim

1 4.4

A cover for the radiator opening that holds the cooling liquid and keeps pressure

1 2.7

A flat hat made of cloth with a small stiff front

cervical cap
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A small cup-shaped device that fits over the cervix to prevent pregnancy

percussion cap
  • Archaic
1 9.7

A small metal piece with powder that explodes when hit to fire a gun

dunce's cap
  • Literature
1 9.9

A pointed paper hat put on students' heads to shame them

1 4.2

A hat with a flat round top and a stiff front that sticks out, worn by police or army

1 3.4

A rounded hat with a small stiff brim at the front, often made of wool or tweed

1 5.8

A patch of yellow, greasy, scaly skin on a baby's scalp

1 2.8

A flat round cap with a small or no brim worn by people who work on ships

1 2.3

A hat with a front brim that you wear when playing golf

small cap
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A capital letter the same height as a small letter used for style

1 3.1

A cap that fits tightly to stop liquids from spilling

1 7.9

A flat foldable cap worn with a military uniform

1 9.9

A very poisonous white mushroom that can kill people and is often mistaken for edible mushrooms

1 7.2

A tight cap with a small front brim worn by horse riders

1 7.7

A small pointed hat worn with a military uniform that folds flat

1 4.8

A flat round hat with a visor that people wear with a military or official uniform

fool's cap
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A cone-shaped paper hat teachers put on students' heads to shame them long ago

1 7.2

A cap with a flat round top and a short visor worn on boats

1 9.7

A lily with petals that bend backward and bright, bell-shaped flowers

cap screw
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A screw with a finished head that you screw into a threaded hole to hold machine parts together

liberty cap
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A tight cone-shaped cap worn as a sign of freedom

1 9.3

A mushroom whose cap turns into a black liquid after it drops its spores

1 7.2

A band around the lower part of a cap often showing rank or decoration

1 5.7

A close-fitting knitted hat with a hanging tail or pom-pom that you wear in cold weather

wishing cap
  • Literature
1 9.9

A cap that makes your wishes come true when you wear it

bishop's cap
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small plant that lives for more than one year with a seed pod shaped like a bishop's hat

A lid you open by turning to remove from a bottle or jar

1 9.0

A North American wildflower with orange-red spotted petals that point downward

A small tool for removing metal caps from bottles

cap shroud
  • Specialized
9.9

A rope or wire near the top of a sailboat mast that holds it steady

A small forest plant with a low leaf cluster and tiny green flowers on thin stems

A mushroom whose cap turns into black ink when it gets old

root cap
  • Specialized
6.8

A small group of cells at the tip of a plant root that protects it as it grows through soil

A common white mushroom with a long shaggy cap that people eat

How High

maximum
73 2.1
ceiling
141 3.7
cap
173 3.3
limit
160 1.4

Surface Forms

cap singular
caps plural

Etymology

Cap used for a maximum comes from the idea of putting a cover on something to stop it, like putting a 'cap' on a bottle. So a money or number 'cap' is a limit you cannot pass.