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 44-year-old is an author and photographer of a tube map project which aims to capture a moment at every stop on the London Underground.

From BBC

A British man has been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine, according to reports.

From BBC

Leicester's supporters have been passionate backers of their managers in recent years - only the stale football of Claude Puel in 2018-19 failing to capture the imagination recently - and murmurings from the terraces were clear.

From BBC

Ruth and I often traveled apart, to capture more episodes of their lives, from birthday parties to jail cells, Narcotics Anonymous meetings to children’s beauty pageants.

From New York Times

It captures some of the inquisitive humanity that Steinmetz, a tall and direct people’s person with a John Malkovich mien, conveys in life.

From New York Times

Related Words

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