Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural captions, present participle captioning, past tense, past participle captioned
1. countable noun
A caption is the words printed underneath a picture or cartoon which explain what it is about.
On the back of the photo is written the simple caption, 'Mrs. Monroe'.
2. verb
When someone captions a picture or cartoon, they put a caption under it.
She captioned a picture on her Instagram page: 'My new workout!'. [V n quote]
The photograph is captioned 'People Power'. [VERB-ed]
The book is well written, properly illustrated and excellently captioned. [VERB-ed]
caption in British English
(ˈkæpʃən)
noun
1.
a title, brief explanation, or comment accompanying an illustration; legend
2.
a heading, title, or headline of a chapter, article, etc
3.
graphic material, usually containing lettering, used in television presentation
4. another name for subtitle (sense 2)
5.
the formal heading of a legal document stating when, where, and on what authority it was taken or made
verb
6.
to provide with a caption or captions
Word origin
C14 (meaning: seizure, an arrest; later, heading of a legal document): from Latincaptiō a seizing, from capere to take
caption in American English
(ˈkæpʃən)
noun
1. Archaic
seizure
2. Law
a.
a part of a legal instrument, such as an indictment, showing where, when, and by what authority it was executed
b.
a heading showing the names of the parties, court, and docket number in a pleading or deposition
3. US
a.
a heading or title, as of an article
b.
a descriptive title, or legend, as under an illustration
4. Cinema and Television
a subtitle
verb transitive
5.
to supply a caption for
Word origin
ME capcioun < OFr capcion < L captio < pp. of capere, take: see have
Examples of 'caption' in a sentence
caption
But can you work out the famous faces from these simple photo clues and captions?
The Sun (2017)
Write captions and stories to go with your pictures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just think of a funny caption for the picture shown opposite.
The Sun (2006)
The photograph had no caption or explanation attached.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The accompanying caption jokingly explains that the sheep is not a habitual smoker.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The caption says it took him an hour to complete the picture.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The captions that we put next to pictures are very short.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Do you know what the caption to this picture should be?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It ended with a caption saying she had discharged herself after three weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The original photo caption was imprecise.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Send us your picture captions timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some photograph captions in Western media appear to have been sloppy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They don't necessarily write their own captions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Make sure that besides looking at the illustrations that you read the accompanying caption and take heed of any pointers regarding positioning of limbs and body parts.
Lycholat, Tony Shape Your Body, Shape Your Life (1987)
This book combines science with beauty, containing 100 superb cloud photographs with explanatory captions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The picture is captioned: 'With my fan club.
The Sun (2009)
Just post your weekly photograph captioned'I live here' near the front door.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He is, captions explain, the first person to work out that a rocket could get us into orbit.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
caption
British English: caption /ˈkæpʃən/ NOUN
The caption of a picture consists of the words printed underneath.
The caption underneath the photograph reads, `Without the rain we can't have a rainbow.'