Definition of: admiral

(ad′mər·əl) noun
1. A naval officer of the highest rank, in the United States Navy equivalent in rank to a general in the United States Army: also, loosely, a rear admiral in the United States Navy, and a rear admiral or vice admiral in other navies.
2. The flagship of a fleet.
3. Any of various showy butterflies of Europe and North America, such as the red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and the white admiral (Limenitis sybilla).
—rear admiral A naval officer ranking next below a vice admiral; in the United States Navy, equivalent in rank to a major general.
—vice admiral A naval officer ranking next below an admiral; in the United States Navy, equivalent in rank to a lieutenant general. See table under GRADE. [<OF amiral, admiral < Arabic amīr-al commander of the (as in amī) r-al-bahr commander of the sea); influenced by L admirabilis admirable]
INSIGNIA-U.S.N.
a. Rear Admiral.
b. Vice Admiral.
c. Admiral.
d. Admiral of the Fleet