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Colonel vs. Captain: What's the Difference?

Colonel and Captain Definitions

Colonel

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general.

Captain

The officer in command of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

Colonel

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Captain

A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief.

Colonel

An honorary nonmilitary title awarded by some states of the United States.
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Captain

The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.

Colonel

A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines).

Captain

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above first lieutenant and below major.

Colonel

(intransitive) To act as or like a colonel.

Captain

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
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Colonel

The chief officer of a regiment; an officer ranking next above a lieutenant colonel and next below a brigadier general.

Captain

A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above commander and below rear admiral.

Colonel

A commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

Captain

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Captain

A figure in the forefront; a leader
A captain of industry.

Captain

A district official for a political party.

Captain

A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating.

Captain

A bell captain.

Captain

To act as captain of; command or direct
Captained the football team.

Captain

A chief or leader.

Captain

The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.

Captain

An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.

Captain

A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.

Captain

A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to a United States Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.

Captain

One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.

Captain

The leader of a group of workers.
John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."

Captain

The head boy of a school.

Captain

A maître d', a headwaiter.

Captain

(southern US) An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.

Captain

(intransitive) To act as captain

Captain

(transitive) To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Captain

A head, or chief officer
A trainband captain eke was he.
The Rhodian captain, relying on . . . the lightness of his vessel, passed, in open day, through all the guards.

Captain

A military leader; a warrior.
Foremost captain of his time.

Captain

To act as captain of; to lead.
Men who captained or accompanied the exodus from existing forms.

Captain

Chief; superior.
Captain jewes in the carcanet.

Captain

An officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

Captain

The naval officer in command of a military ship

Captain

A policeman in charge of a precinct

Captain

An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship

Captain

The leader of a group of people;
A captain of industry

Captain

The pilot ins charge of an airship

Captain

A diningroom attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers

Captain

Be the captain of a sports team

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