capture
/ˈkæp.tʃə/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To catch or take control of a person, animal, place, or thing. It can also mean to record or show something clearly, like a feeling, image, or idea.
- The police captured the thief.
- The photo captures the city's energy.
- We captured the moment on video.
noun
The act of catching or taking control of something. It can also mean a successful recording or representation of a moment, feeling, or idea.
- The capture of the enemy took two hours.
- The film is a perfect capture of childhood.
- Her speech led to the capture of public attention.
Adinary Nuance
Capture is stronger and more complete than words like 'catch' or 'take'. Use it when someone or something is seized, controlled, or preserved clearly in an image or record. In writing, it often sounds more formal than everyday words like 'get' or 'grasp'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bắt giữ
- Spanish
- capturar
- Chinese
- 捕捉
- Japanese
- 捕らえる
- Korean
- 붙잡다
Etymology
Capture comes from Latin capturare, from capere, meaning 'to take'. It entered English through Old French in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
capture attentioncapture an imagecapture the momentcapture the imagination
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is capture more formal than catch?
- Yes. Capture is usually more formal and often used in writing, news, and academic English.
- Can capture mean 'record'?
- Yes. It often means to record a photo, video, feeling, or idea clearly.
- What is the difference between capture and seize?
- Seize often means to take suddenly or by force. Capture can be broader and includes control, recording, or expressing clearly.
- How do I use capture with attention?
- You can say 'capture attention' when something makes people notice it strongly.