capture
B2Formal, neutral
Definition
Meaning
To take or seize someone or something using force, skill, or strategy, preventing their escape or movement.
To record, represent, or preserve something (like an image, feeling, or moment); to gain or win something (like a market, attention, or votes).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While the primary meaning is literal and often violent (e.g., capture a soldier), the extended meanings are metaphorical and common in business, technology, and art.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or grammatical differences. Slight preference for 'capture' in UK military contexts and 'catch' in US everyday contexts for similar meanings.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations range from neutral/technical (data capture) to negative (capture and imprisonment) to positive (capture the essence).
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects, though compound nouns like 'screen capture' might be slightly more frequent in American tech contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
capture + NP (object)capture + NP + from + NPbe captured + by + NP (agent)capture + NP + on + NP (medium)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Capture someone's heart”
- “Capture lightning in a bottle”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To acquire a significant portion of a market ('The new campaign aims to capture 20% market share').
Academic
To accurately describe or model a complex phenomenon ('The theory fails to capture the full complexity of social interaction').
Everyday
To take a photograph or video ('Let me capture a picture of this sunset').
Technical
In computing: to collect and store data ('The software captures user keystrokes for analysis').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The documentary sought to capture the spirit of post-war London.
- Our forces managed to capture the strategic hilltop position.
American English
- The new app captures screenshots with a simple keyboard shortcut.
- The candidate hoped to capture the youth vote in the election.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat tried to capture the bird.
- Can you capture a photo for me?
- The police captured the thief after a short chase.
- This painting really captures her happiness.
- The new advertising campaign successfully captured the public's imagination.
- The sensor captures data about temperature and humidity.
- The novel captures the zeitgeist of the 1990s with remarkable precision.
- Regulators accused the firm of attempting to capture the agency by influencing its leadership appointments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAP being placed over something to trap it. A 'cap' is put over the 'ture' (creature) to CAPTURE it.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION/SUCCESS IS A PRIZE TO BE CAPTURED (e.g., capture an audience). KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A PREY TO BE CAPTURED (e.g., capture data).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'захватить' when the context is peaceful (e.g., 'capture a photo' → 'сфотографировать', not 'захватить фото').
- Don't confuse with 'catch' ('поймать'). 'Capture' implies more effort, strategy, or completeness.
- The noun 'capture' (захват) is less common than the verb in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'capture' for simple, accidental catching (e.g., 'I captured a cold' is wrong → 'I caught a cold').
- Overusing the literal sense in non-violent, metaphorical contexts where 'record', 'get', or 'show' are better.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'capture' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the original meaning is related to seizing by force, its most common uses today are metaphorical, in technology (capture data), photography (capture an image), and business (capture a market).
'Catch' is broader and more everyday (catch a ball, a bus, a cold). 'Capture' implies more deliberate effort, strategy, or finality, and is used for seizing people/animals in a conflict, or for accurately recording/representing something.
Yes, but less frequently. As a noun, it usually refers to the act of capturing (e.g., 'the capture of the city') or a specific instance of recorded data (e.g., 'a screen capture'). The verb form is far more common.
It means to collect, record, or save data from a source, such as capturing video from a camera, capturing keyboard input, or capturing network packets for analysis.