1. Dancing or jumping around in a lively and playful way: This is the most common meaning. It refers to light, energetic, and often spontaneous movements, like a child skipping or a jester performing.
2. Engaging in mischievous or playful behavior: This meaning is related to the first, implying a playful or lighthearted approach to potentially disruptive or inappropriate actions.
3. To skip or leap quickly: This meaning is more specific to the physical act of moving with agility and speed, often in a playful manner.
Here are some examples:
* "The children were capering around the playground, laughing and shouting." (Meaning 1)
* "He was always capering around, causing trouble wherever he went." (Meaning 2)
* "The dog capered excitedly at the sight of its owner." (Meaning 3)
The meaning of "capering" will be determined by the surrounding context.