Phrase guide

drop cap

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A large initial letter that drops below the first line of a paragraph, usually used at the beginning of a section or chapter of a book.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, publishing, typography

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: lettrine — large initial letter
  • German: Initiale — large initial letter
  • German: Kapitale — large initial letter
  • Greek: αρχίγραμμα (archígramma) — large initial letter
  • Greek: πρωτόγραμμα (protógramma) — large initial letter
  • Greek: λετρίνα (letrína) — large initial letter
  • Hungarian: süllyesztett iniciálé — large initial letter
  • Portuguese: capitular — large initial letter
  • Portuguese: letra capital — large initial letter
  • Russian: бу́квица (búkvica) — large initial letter
  • Swedish: anfang — large initial letter