caption

The word “caption” means a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue. In plain terms, the label or short text under a picture, or the subtitles on a video.

“Caption” is pronounced KAP-shuhn (/ˈkæp.ʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “caption” used in a sentence: “The photo's caption identified everyone standing in the group shot.”

Depending on how it is used, “caption” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “caption” comes from Latin. From Latin captio, "a taking, a seizing," from capio, "to take" — the sense shifted over time from a legal "taking" to the modern "heading" or "label.".

“Caption” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Caption” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue.

A caption is a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue, and can include descriptions of sound as well as speech. A subtitle specifically transcribes spoken dialogue, usually for translation or accessibility, and does not typically describe non-speech sounds.

Both phrasings are correct: caption can be used as a verb meaning to add a caption to an image, film, or broadcast, as in "caption the photo," or as a noun in "write a caption for the photo." The verb form directly means to perform the act of adding the text.

A caption is text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue, tying it directly to that visual content. A headline sits atop an article and introduces the whole piece of writing, not a specific image.