capital: Meaning and Definition of
cap•i•tal
Pronunciation: (kap'i-tl), [key]
— n.
- the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state, etc.: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
- a city regarded as being of special eminence in some field of activity: New York is the dance capital of the world.
- See
- the wealth, whether in money or property, owned or employed in business by an individual, firm, corporation, etc.
- an accumulated stock of such wealth.
- any form of wealth employed or capable of being employed in the production of more wealth.
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- assets remaining after deduction of liabilities; the net worth of a business.
- the ownership interest in a business.
- any source of profit, advantage, power, etc.; asset: His indefatigable drive is his greatest capital.
- capitalists as a group or class (distinguished from labor): High taxation has reduced the spending power of capital.
—adj.
- pertaining to financial capital: capital stock.
- principal; highly important: This guide offers suggestions of capital interest to travelers.
- chief, esp. as being the official seat of government of a country, state, etc.: the capital city of France.
- excellent or first-rate: a capital hotel; a capital fellow.
- See
- involving the loss of life: capital punishment.
- punishable by death: a capital crime; a capital offender.
- fatal; extremely serious: a capital error.
cap•i•tal
Pronunciation: (kap'i-tl), [key]
— n. Archit.
- the distinctively treated upper end of a column, pier, or the like.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.