capture

/ˈkæptʃər/

/ˈkæptʃə/

Other forms: captured; capturing; captures

The verb to capture means to grab, trap, or take something that doesn't want to be grabbed, trapped, or taken. Hunters, pirates, and kidnappers all capture the things they want.

If you want that tiger, you're going to have to capture him, either by setting a trap or shooting him. Either way, his capture won't be easy. You can also capture a photograph of something — which, while it doesn't mean taking it against its will, is still a kind of taking in which the thing itself is not participating. The pirate captured his hostages, while his hostages captured the scene on their cell-phone video cameras.

Definitions of capture

1. verb

   capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping
   synonyms: catch

   catch

   take in and retain

   types:

   hunt, hunt down, run, track down

   pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)

   frog

   hunt frogs for food

   bag

   capture or kill, as in hunting

   batfowl

   catch birds by temporarily blinding them

   rat

   catch rats, especially with dogs

   ensnare, entrap, snare, trammel, trap

   catch in or as if in a trap

   snipe

   hunt or shoot snipe

   whale

   hunt for whales

   ambush, still-hunt

   hunt (quarry) by stalking and ambushing

   turtle

   hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation

   drive

   (hunting) chase from cover into more open ground

   drive

   (hunting) search for game

   rabbit

   hunt rabbits

   fowl

   hunt fowl in the forest

   poach

   hunt illegally

   seal

   hunt seals

   ferret

   hunt with ferrets

   course

   hunt with hounds

   foxhunt

   hunt foxes, on horseback and with dogs

   jack, jacklight

   hunt with a jacklight

   hawk

   hunt with hawks

   falcon

   hunt with falcons

   fowl

   hunt fowl

   gin

   trap with a snare

   forage, scrounge

   collect or look around for (food)

   type of:

   acquire, get

   come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
2. verb

   succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
   synonyms: catch, get

   types:

   recapture, retake

   capture again

   lasso, rope

   catch with a lasso

   type of:

   clutch, prehend, seize

   take hold of; grab
3. verb

   take possession of by force, as after an invasion
   “The militia captured the castle”

   synonyms: appropriate, conquer, seize

   types:

   carry

   capture after a fight

   type of:

   arrogate, assume, seize, take over, usurp

   seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
4. verb

   attract; cause to be enamored
   “She captured all the men's hearts”

   synonyms: becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, catch, charm, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, trance

   types:

   hold

   hold the attention of

   work

   gratify and charm, usually in order to influence

   type of:

   appeal, attract

   be attractive to
5. noun

   the act of taking a person by force
   synonyms: seizure

   types:

   abduction

   the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member

   kidnapping, snatch

   (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment

   type of:

   felony

   a serious crime (such as murder or arson)
6. noun

   the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property
   synonyms: gaining control, seizure

   types:

   usurpation

   wrongfully seizing and holding (an office or powers) by force (especially the seizure of a throne or supreme authority)

   apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody

   the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

   conquering, conquest, subjection, subjugation

   the act of conquering

   enslavement

   the act of making slaves of your captives

   type of:

   acquiring, getting

   the act of acquiring something
7. noun

   the removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board
   types:

   en passant

   (chess) a chess pawn that is moved two squares can be captured by an opponent's pawn commanding the square that was passed

   exchange

   (chess) the capture by both players (usually on consecutive moves) of pieces of equal value

   exchange

   (chess) gaining (or losing) a rook in return for a knight or bishop

   type of:

   chess move

   the act of moving a chess piece
8. verb

   bring about the capture of an elementary particle or celestial body and causing it enter a new orbit
   “This nucleus has captured the slow-moving neutrons”

   “The star captured a comet”

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
9. noun

   a process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field
   type of:

   action, activity, natural action, natural process

   a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
10. noun

    any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle
    type of:

    action, activity, natural action, natural process

    a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
11. verb

    succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
    “capture the essence of Spring”

    “capture an idea”

    types:

    recapture

    take up anew

    type of:

    interpret, represent

    create an image or likeness of