ˈkæp.tɪn ˈkæp.tən ˈkæp.tɪn ˈkæp.tən ˈtʃiːf.tən be the captain of a sports team a dining-room attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers the pilot in charge of an airship the naval officer in command of a military ship a policeman in charge of a precinct an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant the leader of a group of people a captain of industry an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship