crown cap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Everyday
Quick answer
What does “crown cap” mean?
A small, crimped metal cap used to seal glass bottles, typically for carbonated drinks or beer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, crimped metal cap used to seal glass bottles, typically for carbonated drinks or beer.
A specific type of bottle closure invented by William Painter in 1892, featuring a flanged metal skirt and a cork or plastic liner to create an airtight seal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'crown cap' and 'bottle cap'. 'Crown cap' is slightly more technical/formal. The term 'bottle top' is also common in UK informal speech.
Connotations
In both regions, it evokes nostalgia, traditional bottling methods, and home-brewing culture.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK technical contexts (e.g., home-brewing guides). In the US, 'bottle cap' is the dominant everyday term.
Grammar
How to Use “crown cap” in a Sentence
[Subject: Person/Machine] + crimp/seal + [Object: bottle] + with + a crown cap[Subject: Person/Tool] + remove/pry off + [Object: crown cap] + from + [Complement: bottle]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown cap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The brewery will crown cap the batch tomorrow.
- He carefully crown-capped each homebrew bottle.
American English
- The machine crowns the bottles at the end of the line.
- We need to crown these bottles before the party.
adverb
British English
- [Not standardly used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not standardly used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- A crown-cap sealing machine
- crown-cap design
American English
- A crown cap collection
- crown cap opener
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In brewing and soft drink manufacturing: 'The new line applies crown caps at a rate of 60,000 bottles per hour.'
Academic
In material science or history of technology: 'The invention of the crown cap revolutionized the safe distribution of carbonated beverages.'
Everyday
At a pub or home: 'Do you have a bottle opener for this crown cap?' or 'I save interesting crown caps from craft beers.'
Technical
In home-brewing or packaging engineering: 'Ensure the crown cap liner is compatible with your beer's pH to avoid flavour taint.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown cap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown cap”
- Misspelling as 'crown cab' or 'crown cap' (forgetting the space).
- Using 'crown cap' to refer to a screw-top lid on a jar.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun ('Crown Cap') unless referring to a specific brand.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but 'crown cap' is the more specific, technical term for the standard crimped metal cap used on beer and soda bottles. 'Bottle cap' is a broader, everyday term that can include other types.
It is named for its shape. The flanged metal skirt, when crimped, resembles a royal crown with points (the crimps).
Yes, using various improvised methods (edge of a table, lighter, another bottle), but a proper opener is safest and easiest.
Yes, the metal (usually steel or aluminium) is highly recyclable. However, they are small and can get lost in the recycling process, so some programmes ask for them to be collected separately.
A small, crimped metal cap used to seal glass bottles, typically for carbonated drinks or beer.
Crown cap is usually technical / everyday in register.
Crown cap: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈkæp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈkæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'crown cap'. The broader term 'cap' features in idioms like 'cap it all off'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a KING (crown) putting a lid (cap) on his royal soda to keep it fizzy.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CROWN CAP IS A LOCK FOR FIZZ: It contains pressure, seals in freshness, and requires a specific key (opener) to release what's inside.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary defining feature of a 'crown cap'?