capture meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

"capture meaning" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it anytime you are trying to describe the process of understanding or conveying the essence of something, either through interpreting its literal definition or the greater implications of its words. For example, "The author attempted to capture meaning in her novel by exploring the universal themes of love, loss, and understanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Defence attorneys in this case argued that Guerrero Chapa became the de facto head of the Gulf cartel after Cardenas Guillen's capture, meaning that he had numerous enemies.

The Guardian

In his pursuit of that goal, Mr. Walker, 60, said he had read through dictionaries, jotted on index cards, made lists on his computer and "resorted to other, more outlandish expedients to capture meaning".

The New York Times - Tech

Swartz grew up in an age of total capture, meaning that there is video footage from most of his life — as a young boy climbing trees, as a precocious teen-ager sprouting facial hair, and as a scruffy young man speaking at political rallies.

The New Yorker

Swartz grew up in an age of total capture, meaning that there is video footage from most of his life as a young boy climbing trees, as a precocious teen-ager sprouting facial hair, and as a scruffy young man speaking at political rallies.

The New Yorker

The enforcing agency is open to regulatory capture, meaning those being regulated have incentives to use feed-back mechanisms to influence how laws are enforced, or interpreted.

Huffington Post

They concluded that a jolt from a taser could lead to "cardiac electrical capture", meaning that the heart could directly respond to the electrical impulse from the taser, potentially triggering a cardiac arrest.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But it is fair to say that while most such systems capture meanings for sentences that are closely related to those of original DRT, they do not capture every aspect of DRT.

SEP

These semantic obstacles are mainly related to the heterogenic nature of the information, which has its captured meaning interpreted in a divergent way, increasing the project costs and development time.

Journal of Industrial Information Integration

Whenever the filter paper returned positive results for viral RNA, the labs also found the viruses present in the mosquitoes they'd captured, meaning the filter paper accurately reflected the presence of virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Science Magazine

It captured meaning and context by taking note of word associations — the regular proximity of certain words to certain other words.

Los Angeles Times

Nevertheless, there were exceptions as five first and second instar nymphs were captured, meaning that exceptionally small Z. annulosus nymphs can be caught despite the care they take to avoid the traps.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "capture meaning" when you want to emphasize the act of successfully understanding or conveying the core message or essence of something, especially when dealing with complex or abstract concepts.

Common error

Avoid using "capture meaning" in overly simplistic situations where a more straightforward verb like "understand" or "explain" would suffice. "Capture meaning" is best reserved for scenarios where extracting or conveying the essence requires deeper insight or effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capture meaning" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "capture" is the transitive verb and "meaning" is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing the act of understanding or conveying the essence of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capture meaning" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes the act of understanding or conveying the essence of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in science and news, where precise communication is essential. While versatile, it is best used when emphasizing the effort to grasp the core significance, rather than in overly simplistic situations. Alternatives like "understand the essence" or "convey the message" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understand the essence

Focuses on comprehending the fundamental nature of something.

grasp the significance

Emphasizes understanding the importance or relevance.

convey the message

Highlights the act of communicating a particular idea or point.

interpret the sense

Focuses on understanding the feeling or message.

elucidate the meaning

Refers to making the meaning clearer or easier to understand.

decipher the intent

Stresses the interpretation of purpose or intention.

extract the significance

Focuses on taking out the relevant meaning.

articulate the core

Centers on putting into words the central aspect.

reflect the significance

Highlights a deep understanding.

seize the import

Highlights a clear way to understand a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "capture meaning" in a sentence?

You can use "capture meaning" to describe the act of understanding something's core essence, like: "The artist's painting aimed to "capture meaning" through symbolism and color." or "The researcher used interviews to "capture meaning" from the participants' experiences".

What are some alternatives to "capture meaning"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "understand the essence", "convey the message", or "grasp the significance".

Is "capture meaning" a formal or informal phrase?

"Capture meaning" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's often used in academic, scientific, or professional settings where precise understanding and communication are crucial.

What's the difference between "capture meaning" and "understand meaning"?

"Capture meaning" often implies a more active and deliberate effort to grasp the full significance or essence of something, whereas "understand meaning" is a more general term for comprehension.