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View synonyms for

caper

1

[ key-per ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to leap or skip about in a sprightly manner; prance; frisk; gambol.


noun

  1. a playful leap or skip.
  2. a prank or trick; harebrained escapade.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. a frivolous, carefree episode or activity.

    Synonyms: ,

  4. Slang. a criminal or illegal act, as a burglary or robbery.

caper

2

[ key-per ]

noun

  1. a spiny shrub, Capparis spinosa, of Mediterranean regions, having roundish leaves and solitary white flowers.
  2. its flower bud, which is pickled and used for garnish or seasoning.

caper

1

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. a playful skip or leap
  2. a high-spirited escapade
  3. cut a caper or cut capers
    1. to skip or jump playfully
    2. to act or behave playfully; frolic
  4. slang.
    a crime, esp an organized robbery
  5. informal.
    a job or occupation
  6. informal.
    a person's behaviour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to leap or dance about in a light-hearted manner
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

caper

2

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. a spiny trailing Mediterranean capparidaceous shrub, Capparis spinosa, with edible flower buds
  2. any of various similar plants or their edible parts See also bean caper capers
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԲ, adverb
  • ˈ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • p· noun
  • p·Բ· adverb
  • ܲ·p·Բ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caper1

First recorded in 1585–95; probably shortening and alteration of capriole ( def )

Origin of caper2

1350–1400; back formation from capers (taken for plural), Middle English caperes < Latin capparis < Greek á貹
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caper1

C16: probably from capriole

Origin of caper2

C15: from earlier capers, capres (assumed to be plural), from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. cut a caper. cut ( def 87 ).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The poorly received comic book caper was to be his final screen appearance.

From

But this isn’t a thriller or a caper in the vein of, say, Elmore Leonard.

From

Saeed says he wasn’t trying too hard with the representation angle; he just built the framework for a crazy caper and placed a Pakistani American family within it.

From

This kind of gory caper teeters on formulaic.

From

I made pasta puttanesca.I'm sure I didn't rinse the capers.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Cape Provincecapercaillie