wild-capture
|wild-cap-ture|
🇺🇸
/ˈwaɪldˌkæp.tʃɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈwaɪldˌkæp.tʃə/
taken from the wild
Etymology
'wild-capture' is a compound formed from English 'wild' and 'capture'. 'Wild' comes from Old English 'wilde' meaning 'untamed', and 'capture' ultimately originates from Latin, specifically the word 'captura', where 'capere' meant 'to take'.
'capture' passed into English via Old French/Medieval Latin (e.g. Old French capturer / Medieval Latin captura) and Middle English forms such as 'capturen', eventually becoming modern English 'capture'. 'Wild' comes from Old English 'wild(e)', with a long history in Germanic languages meaning 'untamed'. The compound 'wild-capture' is a modern descriptive formation combining these two elements.
Individually, 'wild' originally meant 'untamed' and 'capture' 'an act of taking'; combined, the phrase has come to mean specifically the taking of organisms from natural populations (as distinct from captive breeding or farming). Over time it has been used increasingly in ecological, fisheries, and trade contexts to contrast with captive production.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of capturing animals, fish, or plants from their natural habitats (the wild) rather than obtaining them from breeding, farming, or hatcheries; organisms taken in this way.
The company's report documented the wild-capture of reef fish for the aquarium trade.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
describing an animal, plant, or specimen that was taken from the wild rather than bred or raised in captivity.
Wild-capture specimens often require extra quarantine and care compared with captive-bred ones.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/30 12:02