capturar

Capturar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with senses related to taking hold of something moving or elusive and to recording or obtaining information. The core meaning is to seize, catch, or take into custody a person or animal. It also extends to capturing or recording non-physical objects or data, such as a photograph, video, or sensor output.

Etymology: from Latin capturare, from captus, past participle of capere “to seize.” The word developed in both languages with similar senses and unified spelling, and it is widely used in formal, technical, and everyday contexts.

Usage and contexts: In law enforcement and everyday language, capturar describes the act of arresting or apprehending a suspect or animal. In photography and media, it means to take a picture or video; in computing and data handling, it refers to recording information or events, as in capturar una imagen, capturar datos, or capturar la pantalla (screen capture). In wildlife and ecological research, capturar is used for capturing animals for tagging, study, or monitoring.

See also: captura; capturado; capturador. The term aligns closely with its Romance-language cognates and shares general meaning with synonymous verbs such as atrapar or prender, though capturar often conveys a broader notion of recording or systematized capturing in technical or scientific contexts.