1 cap·ture
Pronounced:
/ˈkæptʃɚ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
cap·tures; cap·tured; cap·tur·ingMeaning:
[+ obj] 1 a : to take and hold (someone) as a prisoner especially by using force ▪ They were captured by enemy soldiers. b : to catch (an animal) ▪ using traps to capture mice
2 a : to get control of (a place) especially by using force ▪ The city was captured by the Romans. b : to win or get (something) through effort ▪ She captured 60 percent of the vote in the last election. ▪ The company plans on capturing a larger segment of the market.
3 : to get and hold (someone's attention, interest, etc.) ▪ The show has captured the attention/interest of teenagers. ▪ The story captured our imaginations. [=the story was very interesting and exciting]
4 : to describe or show (someone or something) in a very accurate way by using writing, painting, film, etc. ▪ The story captures the essence of the holiday. ▪ The biography captured her perfectly. ▪ The beauty of the landscape was captured perfectly by the artist.
5 a : to record (something) in a picture, film, etc. ▪ The robbery was captured (on film) by the security cameras. b : to get and put (information) into a form that can be read or used by a computer ▪ The system is used to capture data relating to the buying habits of young people. ▪ a digital camera that captures 1.2 million pixels
6 : to take (something, such as a chess piece) by following the rules of a game ▪ In the game of chess, the goal is to capture your opponent's king.
2 a : to get control of (a place) especially by using force ▪ The city was captured by the Romans. b : to win or get (something) through effort ▪ She captured 60 percent of the vote in the last election. ▪ The company plans on capturing a larger segment of the market.
3 : to get and hold (someone's attention, interest, etc.) ▪ The show has captured the attention/interest of teenagers. ▪ The story captured our imaginations. [=the story was very interesting and exciting]
4 : to describe or show (someone or something) in a very accurate way by using writing, painting, film, etc. ▪ The story captures the essence of the holiday. ▪ The biography captured her perfectly. ▪ The beauty of the landscape was captured perfectly by the artist.
5 a : to record (something) in a picture, film, etc. ▪ The robbery was captured (on film) by the security cameras. b : to get and put (information) into a form that can be read or used by a computer ▪ The system is used to capture data relating to the buying habits of young people. ▪ a digital camera that captures 1.2 million pixels
6 : to take (something, such as a chess piece) by following the rules of a game ▪ In the game of chess, the goal is to capture your opponent's king.
capture lightning in a bottle —see 1lightning

