skipper
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the person in charge of a ship or boat.
n.the master or captain of a vessel, particularly a small merchant or fishing boat.
Simple“The skipper decided to head back to the harbour when the wind picked up.”
In context“The experienced skipper navigated the narrow channel with ease, despite the heavy fog and rising tide.”
UsageOften used as a title or a direct form of address for the person in command.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the captain or leader of a sports team.
n.the captain of a sports team, especially in cricket, football, or rugby.
Simple“The team skipper gave a short speech before the final match started.”
In context“After the loss, the skipper faced the media to explain the team's tactical errors during the second half.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to act as the captain of a ship or a sports team.
v.to serve as the captain or master of a vessel or a competitive sports team.
Simple“She was chosen to skipper the national team during the world championships.”
In context“Having skippered several successful expeditions in the Arctic, he was the natural choice for the new research voyage.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a casual name for a police sergeant.
n.a slang or informal term for a detective sergeant, frequently used as a form of address within the force.
Simple“The constable turned to his boss and asked, 'What's the plan, skipper?'”
In context“The detectives waited for the skipper to sign off on the warrant before proceeding with the search.”
Teacher's tipThis is very specific to British police culture and media; learners will mostly encounter it in crime dramas.
Synonyms - 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a person who jumps over a rope or moves with small jumps.
n.an agent noun referring to a person who performs the action of skipping, such as jumping rope.
Simple“The fastest skipper in the class could jump a hundred times without stopping.”
In context“As a competitive skipper, she practiced her footwork for hours every day to improve her speed and coordination.”
Synonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
n.a small butterfly that flies very quickly in a darting way.
n.any of various butterflies of the family Hesperiidae, characterized by a moth-like body and a rapid, darting flight pattern.
Simple“A small brown skipper landed on the flower for just a second before darting away.”
In context“The researcher noted the presence of several rare skipper species in the meadow, indicating a healthy local ecosystem.”
“You’ve somehow brought my name into it.” Walker, who had been voted captain by his teammates, also claimed Guardiola did not want him to be skipper.”
“Skipper Najmul joined Tanzid at the crease and immediately increased the scoring rate against a tiring Australian attack.”