capitalize
Definitions
To write or print with a capital (upper-case) letter.
用大写字母书写。
To take advantage of something for one's own benefit (capitalize on).
利用，从……中获益（capitalize on）。
To provide a business with capital; to convert into capital.
为……提供资本；使资本化。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcapital + -ize ('to make/use'). Each sense uses a different sense of capital: to capitalize a letter is to make it the big 'head' letter; to capitalize a business is to supply it with capital; to capitalize on a chance is to turn it into gain, treating the opportunity as capital.
Usage Guide
Note the common phrasal use: capitalize ON something means to exploit a chance (capitalize on a mistake, on momentum). Without on, it usually refers to letters (capitalize the first word) or finance (a well-capitalized firm). British English also spells it capitalise.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Remember to capitalize the first letter of each name.
- 2.
The team capitalized on their opponent's mistake to score.
- 3.
The firm was capitalized with funds from three investors.