character (ˈkærɪktə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —n |
| 1. | the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing |
| 2. | one such distinguishing quality; characteristic |
| 3. | moral force; integrity: a man of character |
| 4. | a. reputation, esp a good reputation |
| | b. (as modifier): character assassination |
| 5. | a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonial: my last employer gave me a good character |
| 6. | capacity, position, or status: he spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father |
| 7. | a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role |
| 8. | an outstanding person: one of the great characters of the century |
| 9. | informal an odd, eccentric, or unusual person: he's quite a character |
| 10. | an informal word for person : a shady character |
| 11. | a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet |
| 12. | printing Also called: sort any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type |
| 13. | computing any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern |
| 14. | a style of writing or printing |
| 15. | genetics any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes |
| 16. | a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue |
| 17. | in character typical of the apparent character of a person or thing |
| 18. | out of character not typical of the apparent character of a person or thing |
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| —vb |
| 19. | to write, print, inscribe, or engrave |
| 20. | rare to portray or represent |
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| [C14: from Latin: distinguishing mark, from Greek kharaktēr engraver's tool, from kharassein to engrave, stamp] |
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| 'characterful |
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| —adj |
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| 'characterless |
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| —adj |