noun
Common
cape
kayp
Cape (noun) means a sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms. Example: “Superman's red cape billowed behind him as he flew.”
noun
1
A sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms.
"Superman's red cape billowed behind him as he flew."
"She threw a wool cape over her dress for the walk home."
"The little girl wore a green cape and pretended to be a hero."
2
A piece of land jutting out into the sea; a headland.
"Ships have to round the cape carefully in rough weather."
"We walked to the end of the cape to watch the seabirds."
"A lighthouse stands on the cape and guides boats safely past the rocks."
How to use cape
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sleeveless cloak-like garment, or a point of land sticking out into the sea.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
round the cape
wear a cape
a superhero's cape
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Word forms
- Plural
- capes
- Third person singular
- capes
- Past tense
- caped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Superman's red _____ billowed behind him as he flew.
Etymology
From Old French cap ("cape, headland"), from Latin caput ("head") — the geographic sense (a "head" of land) and the clothing sense both share this root.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cape
See all rhymes for cape →Frequently asked questions
What does “cape” mean?
The word “cape” means a sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms. In plain terms, a sleeveless cloak-like garment, or a point of land sticking out into the sea.
How do you pronounce “cape”?
“Cape” is pronounced kayp (/keɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “cape” in a sentence?
Here is “cape” used in a sentence: “Superman's red cape billowed behind him as he flew.”
What part of speech is “cape”?
“Cape” is a noun.
Where does the word “cape” come from?
The word “cape” comes from Latin. From Old French cap ("cape, headland"), from Latin caput ("head") — the geographic sense (a "head" of land) and the clothing sense both share this root.
Is “cape” a common word?
“Cape” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cape” have?
“Cape” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms.
What is the difference between a 'cape' and a 'cloak'?
A cape is a short, sleeveless garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms, while a cloak is longer and fuller, often reaching the ankles and wrapping the whole body. In short, a cape is the shorter of the two.
What is the difference between a 'cape' and a 'poncho'?
A cape hangs open from the shoulders and usually fastens at the neck, while a poncho is a single piece of fabric with a hole in the middle for the head, so it drapes over the body without a front opening. Capes are often formal or decorative, whereas ponchos are typically practical weather wear.
What is the difference between a 'cape' and a 'peninsula'?
In geography, a cape is a relatively small point of land jutting out into the sea, also called a headland, while a peninsula is a larger area of land nearly surrounded by water. A cape is often the tip, whereas a peninsula is the whole projecting landmass.
Does 'cape' mean clothing or land?
"Cape" has both meanings: it can be a sleeveless garment worn over the shoulders or a piece of land jutting into the sea. They are unrelated in use, so context, such as "wore a cape" versus "sailed around the cape," makes the meaning clear.
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