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captive



cap·tive [ ˈkap-tiv]



captive   
noun
plural captives

Definition of captive (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : one who has been captured : one taken and held usually in confinement Something there is in us that finds captivity captivating, particularly when the captives are prisoners of war.— David Murray He said that while one of the war-boats was being made ready to take the captives into the lagoon, he and his sister left the camp quietly and got away in their canoe.— Joseph Conrad
2 : one captivated, dominated, or controlled
//a captive to love Unlike so many experts pronouncing on that subject today, though, he has never been a captive of a particular ideology or of a well-heeled interest group.— Uwe E. Reinhardt Crescent City residents love their culinary customs—too much, according to some critics, who complain that the city's chefs are captives of the past.— Mitch Frank

captive   
adjective

Definition of captive

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : taken and held as or as if a prisoner of war
b(1) : kept within bounds : confined
(2) : of or relating to captive animals
//captive breeding
2 : held under control of another but having the appearance of independence
especially : owned or controlled by another concern and operated for its needs rather than for an open market
//a captive mine
3 : being such involuntarily because of a situation that makes free choice or departure difficult
//a captive audience


Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Adjective

Synonyms: Antonyms:adjective

Synonyms: Antonyms:noun


Recent Examples on the Web

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
//Since 2002, 17 CWD-positive captive cervid facilities have been detected in Wisconsin; 11 have been depopulated.
— Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: State agencies must stamp out CWD at deer farms," 25 Oct. 2017
//SeaWorld no longer breeds its captive killer whales and is phasing out its theatrical Shamu shows in favor of educational orca encounters.
— Lori Weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Legoland owner denies interest in SeaWorld parks purchase," 11 Oct. 2017
//Abroad, his annexation of Crimea and the campaigns in Syria and Ukraine have been burnished for the evening news by a captive, triumphalist media.
— The Economist, "A tsar is born," 26 Oct. 2017
//According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, 35-year-old Thomas Stinnette is accused of picking up the woman in Georgia last week and holding her captive.
— charlotteobserver, "Man accused of trafficking GA woman at Pineville hotel | Charlotte Observer," 11 Oct. 2017
//That agency said a man armed with a weapon was holding the woman captive.
— Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, "Report Of Woman Held Hostage In Trumbull Apartment False Alarm," 14 Sep. 2017
//American journalist Austin Tice was taken captive in Syria five years ago.
— Alexander Smith, NBC News, "RUSI Report on Terror Ransom Payments Says Americans Are at Risk," 12 Sep. 2017
//Police arrested Perez, now 44, after Gonzalez told them that her husband had kidnapped and raped her and held her captive for days in a motel room.
— Michael Smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Will this be the case that haunts former DA Dumanis?," 10 Sep. 2017
//Between 2008 and 2010, as chytrid was killing off the amphibians, the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project rescued a population of breeding animals and held them captive for their own safety.
— Jackson Landers, Smithsonian, "A Pioneering Force of Harlequin Frogs Set Out to Help Save Their Species," 6 June 2017


First Known Use of captive

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1



History and Etymology for captive

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin captivus, from captus, past participle of capere



Dictionary Entries near captive

captivate

captivated

captivating

captive

captive audience

captive bolt

captivity



Phrases Related to captive

captive audience



More Synonyms and Antonyms ofcaptive

Synonyms & Antonyms of captive

(Entry 1 of 2)

taken and held prisoner
  • the captive soldiers were treated humanely by the guards

Synonyms for captive

Words Related to captive

Phrases Synonymous with captive

Near Antonyms for captive

Antonyms for captive

captive

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms of captive (Entry 2 of 2)

one that has been taken and held in confinement
  • the captives in the concentration camp had devised a daring plan of escape

Synonyms for captive

Words Related to captive

Near Antonyms for captive

Antonyms for captive



More Definitions forcaptive

captive

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of captive

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: captured and kept in a prison, cage, etc.
: forced to watch or listen to something because you cannot leave

captive

noun

English Language Learners Definition of captive (Entry 2 of 2)

: someone who is captured and kept as a prisoner

captive

adjective
cap·​tive | \ ˈkap-tiv \

Kids Definition of captive

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : taken and held prisoner
//captive soldiers
2 : kept within bounds or under control
//captive animals
3 : as a prisoner
//I was taken captive.
4 : unable to avoid watching or listening to something
//a captive audience

captive

noun

Kids Definition of captive (Entry 2 of 2)

: someone who is held prisoner