captain
/ˈkæptɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæptɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkap-tən also ˈkap-ᵊm/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkæp.tɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæp.tən/ (ame, ipa)
captain — noun
1. the person picked to direct a sports team's players on the field and to speak fo
the person picked to direct a sports team's players on the field and to speak for them to officials and the media
Pia was named captain of the school basketball team at age fifteen.
named captain of [team] — passive construction for appointment
The referee called both captains to the centre circle before the match.
As captain, Ravi gave a short speech to encourage the players before the final game.
When the team captain scored the winning goal, the crowd cheered loudly.
The national rugby team chose a new captain after the previous one retired.
- team leader
less formal and more general than 'captain'; not an official role in all sports
- skipper
informal term often used in cricket, sailing, and some football contexts
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs like 'name', 'choose', 'appoint', or 'elect' to describe how someone becomes captain.
常見錯誤
2. the person who is in charge of operating and managing a ship, boat, or aircraft,
the person who is in charge of operating and managing a ship, boat, or aircraft, and who has final responsibility for the safety of everyone on board
The ship captain ordered the crew to prepare for a storm that was approaching fast.
collocation: captain ordered / commanded [action]
Captain Yamada welcomed the passengers and announced that the flight would take thirty minutes.
captain + [surname] — title usage before a name
Every passenger on the ferry trusted the captain because she had twenty years of experience.
The cruise captain came on the loudspeaker to tell everyone about the dolphin sighting.
A harbour captain must know the local tides and weather patterns very well.
用法筆記
When used before a name as a title ('Captain Chen'), it functions like a rank or courtesy title. The ship or aircraft is implied and need not be stated.
常見錯誤
3. an officer in the military, police, or fire service whose position sits between
an officer in the military, police, or fire service whose position sits between lieutenant and major or chief in the usual hierarchy
Captain Okafor served in the army for twelve years and leads a company of soldiers.
title + surname in military address
The police captain arrived at the scene and took charge of the investigation.
A fire department captain usually supervises a team of about ten firefighters.
My aunt was promoted to captain in the Marine Corps after completing her advanced training.
Captain Torres checked each soldier's equipment before the training exercise began.
- commander
a higher naval rank, not equivalent to army/police captain
- lieutenant
a rank below captain in most forces; not interchangeable
用法筆記
As a military rank, 'Captain' is always capitalised when used as a title before a name (e.g. 'Captain Chen'). In the British army it is above lieutenant; in the US army, air force, and Marine Corps, it ranks above first lieutenant and below major. In police and fire departments, the rank structure varies by jurisdiction — generally above lieutenant and below chief or battalion chief.
常見錯誤
captain — verb
1. to be in charge of a group such as a team, ship, or aircraft, making important d
to be in charge of a group such as a team, ship, or aircraft, making important decisions and directing what others do
Yusuf captained the national volleyball team for five years before retiring.
captained [team] for [duration] — past tense with time span
Aiko captained a small research vessel across the Pacific Ocean last summer.
captained a [vessel/ship] across [route]
The senior pilot who captains this 747 has flown for over thirty years.
My older sister captained the debate club in her final year at university.
When Noa captains the boat, the crew feels confident because he knows the coastline well.
- follow
the opposite of leading a group
文法句型
captain + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
The verb 'captain' is less common than the noun. It is most frequent in sports journalism ('He captained the winning side') and in contexts describing the command of a vessel. Do not use it for general leadership outside team/vehicle contexts — use 'lead' or 'manage' instead.