WHITECAP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does whitecap mean? 

• WHITECAP (noun)
  The noun WHITECAP has 1 sense:

1. a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white

  Familiarity information: WHITECAP used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHITECAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

white horse; whitecap

Hypernyms ("whitecap" is a kind of...):

moving ridge; wave (one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water))

 Context examples 

We were in imminent danger of being swamped by the whitecaps.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In consequence it held the boat bow on to the sea and wind—the safest position in which to escape being swamped when the sea is breaking into whitecaps.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A whitecap foamed above it and broke across in a snow-white smother.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The sea had turned a dull leaden grey and grown rougher, and was now tossing foaming whitecaps to the sky.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Time and again and countless times we watched the boat luff into the big whitecaps, lose headway, and be flung back like a cork.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)