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Definition for: capital

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other translations of capital - Other Translations

English

Etymology

From the Latin capitalis , "of the head." Use in trade and finance originated in Medieval economies when a common but expensive transaction involved trading heads of cattle.

Homophones

Noun

Singular
capital

Plural
capitals

capital ( plural capitals )

  1. A city designated as a legislative seat by the government or some other authority, often the city in which the government is located; otherwise the most important city within a country or a subdivision of it.
    Washington D. C. is the capital of the United States of America.
    The Welsh government claims that Cardiff is Europe's youngest capital .
  2. ( economics ) Money and wealth. The means to acquire goods and services, especially in a non-barter system.
  3. An uppercase letter.
  4. ( architecture ) The uppermost part of a column.

Usage notes

The homophone capitol refers only to a building, usually