cap·i·tal
1
(k
p
-tl)
KEY
NOUN:
-
- A town or city that is the official seat of government in a political entity, such as a state or nation.
- A city that is the center of a specific activity or industry:
the financial capital of the world.
-
- Wealth in the form of money or property, used or accumulated in a business by a person, partnership, or corporation.
- Material wealth used or available for use in the production of more wealth.
- Human resources considered in terms of their contributions to an economy:
"[The] swift unveiling of his . . . plans provoked a flight of human capital"
(George F. Will).
-
Accounting
The remaining assets of a business after all liabilities have been deducted; net worth.
- Capital stock.
- Capitalists considered as a group or class.
- An asset or advantage:
"profited from political capital accumulated by others"
(Michael Mandelbaum).
- A capital letter.
ADJECTIVE:
- First and foremost; principal:
a decision of capital importance.
- First-rate; excellent:
a capital idea.
- Relating to or being a seat of government.
- Extremely serious:
a capital blunder.
- Involving death or calling for the death penalty:
a capital offense.
- Of or relating to financial assets, especially being or related to those financial assets that add to the net worth of a business:
made capital improvements at the plant site.
- Relating to or being a capital letter.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English,
principal, from Old French, from Latin
capit
lis, from
caput,
head, money laid out; see
kaput- in Indo-European roots
Usage Note:
The term for a town or city that serves as a seat of government is spelled
capital. The term for the building in which a legislative assembly meets is spelled
capitol.
