noun
caper
KAY-puh
Caper (noun) means a playful, high-spirited jump or leap. Example: “The puppy did a joyful caper across the lawn.”
noun
1
A playful, high-spirited jump or leap.
"The puppy did a joyful caper across the lawn."
2
A carefully planned, often elaborate crime, especially a robbery — or a story about one.
"The film follows a gang plotting an elaborate casino caper."
"The heist caper kept audiences guessing until the final twist."
3
The small, pickled flower bud of the caper plant, used as a pungent, salty seasoning.
"She added capers to the pasta sauce for a briny kick."
verb
1
To leap or skip about playfully.
"The children capered around the garden in the first snow."
How to use caper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA playful jump, an elaborate crime story, or (unrelated in modern use) a pickled flower bud used in cooking.
Common pairings
a heist caper
caper about
capers and lemon
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Word forms
- Plural
- capers
- Third person singular
- capers
- Past tense
- capered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The puppy did a joyful _____ across the lawn.
Etymology
A shortened form of "capriole," a leaping movement, ultimately from Latin caper ("goat") — goats being known for their bouncy jumps.
Related words
Rhymes for caper
See all rhymes for caper →Frequently asked questions
What does “caper” mean?
The word “caper” means a playful, high-spirited jump or leap. In plain terms, a playful jump, an elaborate crime story, or (unrelated in modern use) a pickled flower bud used in cooking.
How do you pronounce “caper”?
“Caper” is pronounced KAY-puh (/ˈkeɪpɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “caper” in a sentence?
Here is “caper” used in a sentence: “The puppy did a joyful caper across the lawn.”
What part of speech is “caper”?
Depending on how it is used, “caper” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “caper” come from?
The word “caper” comes from Latin. A shortened form of "capriole," a leaping movement, ultimately from Latin caper ("goat") — goats being known for their bouncy jumps.
How many meanings does “caper” have?
“Caper” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a playful, high-spirited jump or leap.
