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A capture removes an opponent's piece when your piece legally moves to its square.
Most pieces capture the same way they move. Pawns are the main exception because they move forward but capture diagonally.
A capture replaces the opposing piece
Most captures move a piece onto a square occupied by an opponent and remove that opponent's piece. A player cannot capture a friendly piece, and a sliding piece cannot capture through a blocker.
Move the bishop from c4 to f7 to capture the pawn.
Move the bishop from c4 to f7 to capture the pawn.
Pawns and en passant need separate attention
A pawn captures diagonally even though it moves straight. En passant is the only capture in which the capturing pawn does not land on the captured pawn's square; the captured pawn is removed from the square beside it.
A capture must still leave the king safe
A geometrically possible capture is illegal when it exposes the moving side's king to check. This is why a pinned piece may appear able to capture but still cannot move.