1. A brief explanation accompanying an image: This is the most common meaning of "caption" in language arts. It's a short piece of text that provides information about a picture, drawing, photograph, or other visual element. It might describe what's happening in the image, identify people or places, or provide context for the image.
2. A heading or title for a chapter, section, or article: This meaning is less common, but it can be used to indicate the main idea or topic of a particular part of a text.
Examples:
* Caption for an image: "The children are playing in the park on a sunny day."
* Caption for a chapter: "Chapter 3: The Mystery Begins"
In summary, a caption is a short piece of text that provides information or context about a visual element or a part of a text. It can be a brief explanation, a title, or a heading.