caper
caper — verb
- caperpresent simple I / you / we / they
- capers3rd person singular
- capering-ing form
- caperedpast simple
1. to move with lively, bouncy steps and jumps, usually because you feel happy and
to move with lively, bouncy steps and jumps, usually because you feel happy and full of energy.
The children capered around the garden after the rain stopped.
caper + around [place]
Little Liam capered across the meadow, chasing after the butterflies.
The puppy capered about the living room, knocking over a cushion.
When Paloma heard the good news, she capered down the hallway with joy.
The lambs capered in the field while their mothers grazed nearby.
- plod
slow, heavy walking
文法句型
caper + adverb/preposition phrase
用法筆記
Often used with a direction or location phrase (capered around/about/across). Describes playful, energetic movement, not ordinary walking or running.
常見錯誤
caper — noun
- capersingular
- capersplural
1. an unusual, exciting, or illegal activity that a person or group takes part in,
an unusual, exciting, or illegal activity that a person or group takes part in, often involving an element of risk or adventure.
The weekend caper involved a midnight boat ride to the abandoned island.
caper + involved [activity]
Their latest caper was a plan to release the zoo animals into the wild.
The newspaper called the museum robbery a daring caper pulled off by three thieves.
Layla still laughs about the silly caper she and Sahil cooked up at summer camp.
What started as a harmless caper ended with the neighbours calling the police.
- routine
ordinary, unexciting activity
文法句型
caper + of [activity]
用法筆記
Often carries a tone of light-hearted mischief rather than serious crime. Use 'crime' or 'heist' for genuinely violent or professionally planned illegal activity.
常見錯誤
2. a humorous film or story with a fast-moving plot, usually involving a crime or c
a humorous film or story with a fast-moving plot, usually involving a crime or clever scheme that is treated in a light-hearted way.
The director's latest caper stars three retired jewel thieves pulled back for one last job.
caper stars [characters] — film review usage
Quinn loves watching old caper films from the 1960s with their clever plots.
That movie is a classic caper full of narrow escapes, mistaken identities, and witty dialogue.
The critics called it a stylish caper, praising the chase scenes through the old city.
Unlike serious crime dramas, a caper invites the audience to smile at the crooks' clever tricks.
- heist film
a subtype of caper focused specifically on a robbery
- comedy thriller
broader genre combining humour and suspense
文法句型
caper film/movie
用法筆記
Frequently used as a modifier before 'film' or 'movie' (e.g. a caper film). This is a specific film genre label, not a general description.
3. tiny edible flower buds from a shrub that grows around the Mediterranean Sea; th
tiny edible flower buds from a shrub that grows around the Mediterranean Sea; they are pickled in salt or vinegar and added to food for a tangy flavour.
Eleni added a spoonful of capers to the tomato sauce for a tangy taste.
capers + added to [dish] for [flavour]
The pasta was topped with smoked salmon, capers, and a squeeze of lemon.
Capers go well with fish dishes, especially in Mediterranean recipes.
Sivan rinsed the capers before chopping them, to remove some of the salt.
Without capers, the chicken piccata would lack its signature sharp flavour.
文法句型
capers as ingredient in [dish]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural (capers) when referring to the food ingredient. The singular form is rare in everyday cooking contexts.
常見錯誤
4. a low, thorny Mediterranean plant whose flower buds are picked and used as the f
a low, thorny Mediterranean plant whose flower buds are picked and used as the food ingredient capers.
The caper bush grows well in rocky coastal soil and needs very little water.
Farmers in Sicily have cultivated the caper for centuries, harvesting its buds by hand.
cultivated the caper — botanical/agricultural usage
A mature caper can spread more than two metres across the dry hillside.
Bao studied how the caper's deep root system helps it survive long summer droughts.
- caper bush
more commonly used than just 'caper' for the plant
用法筆記
This sense refers to the living plant itself, not the preserved buds sold as capers. Typically encountered in gardening, agriculture, or botanical writing.
5. a short, playful leap or jumping movement, often done as an expression of high s
a short, playful leap or jumping movement, often done as an expression of high spirits.
The dancer ended the routine with a light caper across the stage.
The puppy's playful capers made the children laugh until their sides hurt.
playful capers — adjective + noun pattern
With a joyful caper, Anong skipped ahead to join her friends on the swings.
Hyun watched the lambs' silly capers from the farmhouse window and smiled.
- stumble
an awkward, unintended movement
用法筆記
A literary or slightly old-fashioned word. In modern everyday English, 'leap' or 'skip' is more common for this meaning.