From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Capture \Cap"ture\, n. [L. capture, fr. caper to take: cf. F.
capture. See Caitiff, and cf. aptive.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The act of seizing by force, or getting possession of by
superior power or by stratagem; as, the capture of an
enemy, a vessel, or a criminal.
[1913 Webster]
Even with regard to captures made at sea.
--Bluckstone.
[1913 Webster]
2. The securing of an object of strife or desire, as by the
power of some attraction.
[1913 Webster]
3. The thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem; a prize;
prey.
Syn: Seizure; apprehension; arrest; detention.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Capture \Cap"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Captured; p. pr. & vb.
n. Capturing.]
1. To seize or take possession of by force, surprise, or
stratagem; to overcome and hold; to secure by effort.
[1913 Webster]
2. to record or make a lasting representation of (sound or
images); as, to capture an event on videotape; the artist
captured the expression of grief on his face.
[PJC]
3. (Games) to take control of, or remove from play; as, to
capture a piece in chess.
[PJC]
4. to exert a strong psychological influence on; as, to
capture the heart of a maiden; to capture the attention of
the nation.
[PJC]
5. (Computers) to record (data) in a computer-readable form;
as, to capture a transaction in a database.
[PJC]
Her heart is like some fortress that has been
captured. --W. Ivring.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
capture
n 1: the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property
[syn: capture, gaining control, seizure]
2: a process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its
gravitational field
3: any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an
additional particle
4: the act of taking of a person by force [syn: capture,
seizure]
5: the removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board
v 1: succeed in representing or expressing something intangible;
"capture the essence of Spring"; "capture an idea"
2: attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's
hearts" [syn: capture, enamour, trance, catch,
becharm, enamor, captivate, beguile, charm,
fascinate, bewitch, entrance, enchant]
3: succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase; "We
finally got the suspect"; "Did you catch the thief?" [syn:
get, catch, capture]
4: 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"
5: take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the
invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants";
"The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle"
[syn: appropriate, capture, seize, conquer]
6: capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a
rabbit in the trap today" [syn: capture, catch]