the supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral
"The newly promoted admiral reviewed the battle plans from his flagship, confident in his authority over every ship under his command."
any of several brightly colored butterflies
"The admiral butterfly fluttered across the garden, its wings displaying vibrant black and orange patterns."
A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
"The admiral ordered all ships to return to port immediately."
A naval officer title
In plain English: An admiral is a high-ranking officer who leads large groups of ships and sailors in an army's navy.
"The naval admiral reviewed the fleet's readiness before dawn."
Usage: Use this word to refer specifically to the highest-ranking military officer in a navy, distinct from army or air force generals who hold equivalent ranks but different titles. It is often confused with "admirable," which describes something worthy of admiration rather than denoting an official position.
The word "admiral" entered English via Middle English and Old French forms derived from Medieval Latin. Its ultimate origin is the Arabic term for commander, which was altered in Latin to sound like it meant "to admire."