Definition of "capital" in English

noun

1. (uncountable, economics) Already-produced durable goods available for use as a factor of production, such as steam shovels (equipment) and office buildings (structures).

2. (uncountable, business, finance, insurance) Money and wealth. The means to acquire goods and services, especially in a non-barter system.

   • He does not have enough capital to start a business.

3. (uncountable, politics) The capitalist class; investors considered collectively with respect to their societal (economic, political, cultural, etc.) influence.

   • The markets crashing symbolized capital’s discontent with the tax reforms passed.

4. (countable) A city designated as a legislative seat by the government or some other authority, often the city in which the government is located; otherwise the most important city within a country or a subdivision of it.

   • Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States of America.
   • The Welsh government claims that Cardiff is Europe’s youngest capital.

5. (countable) The most important city in the field specified.

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

6. (countable) An uppercase letter.

7. (uncountable) Knowledge; awareness; proficiency.

   • Interpreters need a good amount of cultural capital in order to function efficiently in the profession.

8. (countable, by extension) The chief or most important thing.

adjective

1. Of prime importance.

2. Chief (in a political sense, as being the seat of the general government of a state or nation).

   • London and Paris are capital cities.

3. (comparable, UK, dated) Excellent.

   • That is a capital idea!

4. (crime) Punishable by, or involving punishment by, death.

   • capital punishment; capital murder

5. Uppercase.

   • One begins a sentence with a capital letter.

6. Of or relating to the head.

interjection

1. (slang, dated) used as an expression of approval, satisfaction, or delight.

   • That's an amazing idea! Capital!

noun

1. (countable, architecture) The uppermost part of a column.