1. An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
   "The sea captain navigated through the storm with skill and experience";
   - master, sea captain, skipper
    
2. (military) the naval officer in command of a military ship
   "The captain ordered the ship to change course";
   - skipper
    
3. (military) an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
   "The captain led his company into battle"
    
4. [US] A policeman in charge of a precinct
   "The captain held a press conference to address the recent crime wave";
   - police chief
    
5. The leader of a group of people
   "a captain of industry";
   - chieftain
    
6. The pilot in command of an aircraft or vessel
   "The captain skilfully navigated the aircraft through the turbulent weather";
   - senior pilot
    
7. A dining-room attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers
   "The captain efficiently managed the busy restaurant floor";
   - headwaiter, maitre d'hotel, maitre d'
    
8. The player who is leader of a sports team
   "The captain led the team onto the field"

1. Be the captain of a sports team
   "He captained the national soccer team for five years"
    
2. To exercise command of a ship, aircraft, etc.
   "She captained the vessel across the Atlantic"

Derived forms: captained, captains, captaining

Type of: aeroplane pilot [Brit], airplane pilot [N. Amer], bobby [Brit, informal], commissioned military officer, commissioned naval officer, dining-room attendant, head, lead, leader, officer, pilot, plod [Brit, informal], police officer, restaurant attendant, ship's officer

Encyclopedia: Captain, May I?