Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

caption

Syllabification: (cap·tion)
Pronunciation: /ˈkapSHən/
Translate caption | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of caption

noun

  • a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster.
  • a piece of text appearing on a movie or television screen as part of a movie or broadcast.
  • Law the heading of a legal document.

verb

[with object] (usually be captioned)
  • provide (an illustration) with a title or explanation:the drawings were captioned with humorous texts [with two objects]:the photograph was captioned “Three little maids.”

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'seizing, capture'): from Latin caption-, from capere 'take, seize'. Early senses 'arrest' and 'warrant for arrest' gave rise to 'statement of where, when, and by whose authority a warrant was issued' (late 17th century): this was usually appended to a legal document, hence the sense 'heading or appended wording' (late 18th century)

caption in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of caption in the British & World English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …