capital

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈkæp.ɪ.təl/, SAMPA: /"k{p. I.t@l/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone(s): capitol

Noun

Singular capital

Plural capitals

1. (countable) A capital is the most important city of a country. The government of the country is usually located there.
2. (countable) The (field) capital is the most important city in that particular field.

   Hollywood is the film capital, New York the theater capital, Las Vegas the gambling capital.

3. (uncountable) A person's capital is all his money and wealth.
4. (countable) A capital forms the topmost member of a column or pilaster. It broadens the area of the column's supporting surface.

Related words

• capitalist

Adjective

Positive capital

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. A capital object or idea is something that is very important.
2. (British) Excellent, very good.

   That is a capital idea!

3. Involving punishment by death.

   Not all felonies are capital crimes.

4. Uppercase.

   One begins a sentence with a capital letter.