/ ˈkæpʃn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
words that are printed underneath a picture, cartoon , etc. that explain or describe it
—see also closed-captioned
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to write a caption for a picture, photograph, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense seizing, capture ): from Latin captio(n-) , 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 cent.): this was usually attached to a legal document, hence the sense heading or accompanying wording (late 18th cent.).