capture

[ kap-cher ]

verb (used with object)

, cap·tured, cap·tur·ing.

1. to take by force or stratagem; take prisoner; seize:

   The police captured the burglar.

   Synonyms: nab, grab, apprehend, snare, arrest, catch

   Antonyms: release

2. to gain control of or exert influence over:

   an ad that captured our attention;

   a TV show that captured 30% of the prime-time audience.

3. to take possession of, as in a game or contest:

   to capture a pawn in chess.

4. to represent or record in lasting form:

   The movie succeeded in capturing the atmosphere of Berlin in the 1930s.

5. Computers.
   1. to enter (data) into a computer for processing or storage.
   2. to record (data) in preparation for such entry.

noun

1. the act of capturing.

   Synonyms: apprehension, arrest, seizure

   Antonyms: release

2. the thing or person captured.
3. Physics. the process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle.
4. Crystallography. substitution in a crystal lattice of a trace element for an element of lower valence.

capture

/ ˈkæptʃə /

verb

1. to take prisoner or gain control over

   to capture a town

   to capture an enemy

2. (in a game or contest) to win control or possession of

   to capture a pawn in chess

3. to succeed in representing or describing (something elusive)

   the artist captured her likeness

4. physics (of an atom, molecule, ion, or nucleus) to acquire (an additional particle)
5. to insert or transfer (data) into a computer

noun

1. the act of taking by force; seizure
2. the person or thing captured; booty
3. physics a process by which an atom, molecule, ion, or nucleus acquires an additional particle
4. Also calledpiracy geography the process by which the headwaters of one river are diverted into another through erosion caused by the second river's tributaries
5. the act or process of inserting or transferring data into a computer

Derived Forms

• ˈcapturer, noun

Other Words From

• captur·a·ble adjective
• captur·er noun
• pre·capture adjective verb (used with object) precaptured precapturing
• un·captur·a·ble adjective
• un·captured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of capture¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French, from Latin captūra, equivalent to capt(us) “taken” (past participle of capere “to take”) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of capture¹

C16: from Latin captūra a catching, that which is caught, from capere to take

Example Sentences

The chances of capture were too slim, the potential payoffs too high.

From Popular-Science

Maybe a new wetlands project or a big carbon scoop in the sky, called direct-air capture technology, which theoretically sucks carbon out of the atmosphere.

From Voice of San Diego

Abt Associates of Rockville appointed Matthew Strobl vice president for data capture strategies and innovation.

From Washington Post

The image capture isn’t the only place where speed has improved.

From Popular-Science

A year ago, Microsoft announced plans to create a $1 billion fund for “carbon reduction, capture, and removal technologies,” as it looks to cancel out its entire historic emissions.

From MIT Technology Review

Nor does the jet have the ability to capture high-definition video, utilize an infra-red pointer.

From The Daily Beast

Thankfully, someone was there to capture this “jit going ham,” as the cameraman put it.

From The Daily Beast

Family members say he developed also liver cancer after his capture.

From The Daily Beast

Next to the house is the site where Ziad began building a home for his family before his capture.

From The Daily Beast

Morales made his way to Mexico, where an effort to capture him led to a shootout, which ended with a local cop being killed.

From The Daily Beast

Then, if you gentlemen are successful here, and capture Fulton and Jefferson City, our brightest hopes will be fulfilled.

From Project Gutenberg

The events which succeeded this fortunate capture are too well known to require more than a very brief recapitulation.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a very dangerous one, too, and sometimes lives were sacrificed in his efforts to capture or to kill this fierce wild beast.

From Project Gutenberg

Altogether, we spent five consecutive days hovering around that collection of law-enforcers, in imminent risk of capture.

From Project Gutenberg

The capture of Independence greatly elated the guerrillas, and recruits came pouring in by the hundreds.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprehend
• arrest
• catch
• conquer
• grab
• occupy
• pick up
• round up
• secure
• seize
• snatch
• take
• trap