Looking up...
caption
/ˈkæpʃən/
text describing an image
The photo's caption read, 'Sunset over the ocean.'
The text below the image describes what the photo shows.
general
A short piece of text that explains or describes an image, video, or illustration.
She added a caption to the meme to explain its joke.
She wrote text under the meme to clarify why it's funny.
The museum provided a caption for each painting.
The museum displayed short descriptions next to each artwork.
Captions are often used in media, social platforms, and educational materials to provide context.
general
To provide a caption for something.
The photographer captioned the photo with a brief description.
The photographer added text to the photo explaining its content.
Used as a verb in contexts like editing or publishing.
Collocations
image captiontext describing an imageadd a captionwrite a descriptioncaption thiswrite a description for this
Pro Tip
Avoid over-explaining in captions
A good caption should complement the image without repeating obvious details. For example, if the image shows a dog, the caption might say 'Our playful puppy' instead of 'This is a dog.'
Gold Rule
Keep captions concise
Aim for brevity. Captions should quickly convey the key message or context without overwhelming the viewer.
Word Origin
From Latin *capitio(n-)*, meaning 'taking' or 'seizing,' derived from *capere* 'to take.' The word evolved to mean a heading or summary in English by the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Captions are distinct from titles or headers; they directly describe the content of the image or media they accompany. In social media, captions often include additional context or hashtags.
Word Breakdown
cap-
head, chief
root-tion
act or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary