Definition

1. Noun:
   • A genus of mammals comprising the goats: "Capra" is the scientific genus name for animals including wild and domestic goats.
   • Frank Capra, United States film director (1897-1991): "Capra" is also the surname of a famous American film director known for classic Hollywood films.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Genus):

  • The domestic goat belongs to the genus Capra.
  • Biologists study several species within Capra, such as the ibex.

• Noun (Person):

  • Capra directed the beloved film "It's a Wonderful Life".
  • We are studying the cinematic style of Frank Capra in my film class.

Advanced Usage

• Used in taxonomic contexts: The word is primarily used in scientific, zoological, or agricultural writing when classifying animals.
  • The phylogenetic tree clearly shows the position of Capra within the Bovidae family.

Variants and Related Words

• Caprine (adj): Of or relating to goats.
  • The farm has a strong caprine odor.

Synonyms

• Goat genus: A descriptive synonym for the biological meaning.
• Frank Capra: The full name for the personal name meaning; the director himself.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The two meanings are homographs (same spelling) but are entirely different. Context is essential to determine whether the reference is to zoology or film history.
  • In a biology textbook, "Capra" refers to the animal genus.
  • In a book about Hollywood, "Capra" refers to the director.

Noun

1. goats
2. United States film maker (1897-1991)