Caper



GRE

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v. / n. 雀跃, 欢蹦
• ［英］ v. / n. 雀跃, 欢蹦 ( a gay, playful jump or leap)
• ［例］ The lambs were capering in the fields.

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: back-formation from earlier capers (taken as a plural), from Middle English caperis, from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis
• Date: 14th century
• 1. any of a genus (Capparis of the family Capparidaceae, the caper family) of low prickly shrubs of the Mediterranean region; especially one (C. spinosa) cultivated for its buds
• 2. one of the greenish flower buds or young berries of the caper pickled and used as a seasoning or garnish

II. intransitive verb (capered; capering)

• Etymology: probably by shortening & alteration from capriole
• Date: 1588
• to leap or prance about in a playful manner

III. noun

• Date: 1592
• 1. a frolicsome leap
• 2. a capricious escapade ; prank
• 3. an illegal or questionable act; especially theft

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