caption

Meanings

Noun

• The descriptive heading or title of a document or part thereof
• A title or brief explanation attached to an illustration, cartoon, user interface element, etc.
• A piece of text appearing on screen as subtitle or other part of a film or broadcast.
• The section on an official paper that describes when, where, what was taken, found or executed, and by whom it was authorized.
• A seizure or capture, especially of tangible property (chattel).

Verb

• To add captions to a text or illustration.
• To add captions to a film or broadcast.

Origin

• Borrowed from Latin captiō, from the past participle of capiō (English capture). Compare Middle English capcioun.