Definition of Admiral

1. Noun. The supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral.


2. Noun. Any of several brightly colored butterflies.

Definition of Admiral

1. n. A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.

Definition of Admiral

1. Noun. A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces. ¹

2. Noun. A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron. ¹

3. Noun. A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four star general. ¹

4. Noun. The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet. ¹

5. Noun. (obsolete) A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan. ¹

6. Noun. (zoological) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of Europe and America, especially a red admiral or white admiral. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Admiral

1. a high-ranking naval officer [n -S]

Medical Definition of Admiral

1. 1. A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets. 2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet. "Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his thunders roaring from his broadsides." (E. Everett) 3. A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles. Admiral shell, the popular name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis). Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain. Origin: OE. Amiral, admiral, OF. Amiral, ultimately fr. Ar. Amir-al-bahr commander of the sea; Ar. Amir is commander, al is the Ar. Article, and amir-al, heard in different titles, was taken as one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with L. Admirabilis admirable, fr. Admirari to admire. It is said to have been introduced into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century. Cf. Ameer, Emir. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Admiral

administratrix
administratrixship
administre
administred
administring
administrivia
admins
adminship
adminships
admirabilities
admirability
admirable
admirableness
admirablenesses
admirably
admiral (current term)
admiral's barge
admiralcies
admiralcy
admirals
admiralship
admiralships
admiralties
admiralty
admiralty law
admirance
admiration
admirations
admirative
admiratively

Literary usage of Admiral

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Chronological History of the West Indies by Thomas Southey (1827)
"At day-light the French took the ship which had engaged admiral Benbow in tow, and stood away before the wind. The Breda was disabled in her rigging, ..."

2. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1812)
"How the admiral went over to ... which James Mendez had bought and fitted out at St. Domingo with the admiral's money, aboard which all the men, ..."

3. The Geographical Journal by Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain). (1907)
"The deceased admiral's bent towards the more scientific side of his profession was no doubt ... He became a rear-admiral in 1891 (in which year he retired), ..."

4. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1872)
"Pursuant to notice given at the last Meeting, Mr. Spottiswoode proposed •and admiral Richards seconded the Right Hon. George Joachim Goschen, First Lord of ..."

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