captain

Everyday

1. The person in charge of a ship or an aeroplane. tree →
2. The leader of a sports team. tree →
3. An officer in the army, navy or police. tree →
4. (verb) To lead a team or a ship. tree →

In the lessons

In school sport, the team captain leads the players and talks to the referee. In stories, a ship's captain gives orders and is responsible for everyone on board. On planes, the captain is the chief pilot. Phrases: «team captain», «ship's captain», «Captain Hook».

Examples

• Mia is the captain of our netball team. tree →
• The captain steered the ship through the storm. tree →
• «This is your captain speaking,» said the pilot. tree →
• Captain Hook is the pirate in «Peter Pan». tree →
• Who will captain the team this year? tree →
• The captain was the last to leave the sinking ship. tree →
• Our class captain helps the teacher. tree →
• The captain was in great fright. tree →

Note

As a title it takes a capital letter: Captain Smith. Countable: captains. The leader of a school house or class may also be called a captain, especially in the UK and Australia.

In Jewish tradition

It means a chief, leader or commander, such as the captain of an army, of a guard, of fifty men, or of a tribe. It is not a ship's captain. In the primary lessons: In school sport, the team captain leads the players and talks to the referee. In stories, a ship's captain gives orders and is responsible for everyone on board. On planes, the captain is the chief pilot. Phrases: «team captain», «ship's captain», «Captain Hook».

Examples

• And they said one to another: 'Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.' (Torah NUM.14.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host. (Torah GEN.26.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard. (Torah GEN.37.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were the captains of the tribes of Israel. (Writings 1CH.27.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. (Writings 1CH.12.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. (Prophets 2KI.1.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

As a title it takes a capital letter: Captain Smith. Countable: captains. The leader of a school house or class may also be called a captain, especially in the UK and Australia.