Refine this word faster
Caper
//ˈkeɪpɚ// noun, verb
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A playful leap or jump.
- 2 The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), which is pickled and eaten.
- 3 A vessel formerly used by the Dutch; privateer.
- 4 The capercaillie. Scotland
- 5 a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement wordnet
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 A jump while dancing.
- 7 A plant of the genus Capparis.
- 8 gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement wordnet
- 9 A prank or practical joke.
- 10 a playful leap or hop wordnet
- 11 Playful behaviour. plural-normally
- 12 a crime (especially a robbery) wordnet
- 13 A crime, especially an elaborate heist, or a narrative about such a crime. figuratively
"His caper had failed to find a comic resolution. Instead, there had been a genre switch, and the madcap adventure had turned serious. Or had this bleakness underlain the caper from the start?"
- 14 pickled flower buds used as a pungent relish in various dishes and sauces wordnet
- 15 any of numerous plants of the genus Capparis wordnet
Verb
- 1 To leap or jump about in a sprightly or playful manner.
"He capered before them down towards the fortyfoot hole, fluttering his winglike hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury’s hat quivering in the fresh wind that bore back to them his brief birdsweet cries."
- 2 jump about playfully wordnet
- 3 To jump as part of a dance.
- 4 To engage in playful behaviour.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Clipping of capriole.
Etymology 2
Clipping of capriole.
Etymology 3
From Latin capparis, from Ancient Greek κάππαρις (kápparis).
Etymology 4
From Dutch kaper.
Etymology 5
Shortening of capercaillie.
See also for "caper"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: caper