n. & adj.
--n. a person or animal that has been taken prisoner or confined.
--adj.
1. a taken prisoner. b kept in confinement or under restraint.
2 a unable to escape. b in a position of having to comply (captive audience; captive market).
3 of or like a prisoner (captive state).
Phrases and idioms:
captive balloon a balloon held by a rope from the ground.
Etymology: ME f. L captivus f. capere capt- take