characterize
Use Characterize in a sentence
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ɪk verb (used with object), char·ac·ter·ized, char·ac·ter·iz·ing.
1.
to mark or distinguish as a characteristic; be a characteristic of: Rich metaphors characterize his poetry.
2.
to describe the character or individual quality of: He characterized her in a few well-chosen words.
3.
to attribute character to: to characterize him as a coward.
Also, especially British, char·ac·ter·ise.
Related forms
char·ac·ter·iz·a·ble, adjective
char·ac·ter·iz·er, noun
mis·char·ac·ter·ize, verb (used with object), mis·char·ac·ter·ized, mis·char·ac·ter·iz·ing.
non·char·ac·ter·ized, adjective
re·char·ac·ter·ize, verb (used with object), re·char·ac·ter·ized, re·char·ac·ter·iz·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To characterize
00:10
Characterize
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
characterize or characterise (ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to be a characteristic of: loneliness characterized the place |
| 2. | to distinguish or mark as a characteristic |
| 3. | to describe or portray the character of |
| characterise or characterise | |
| —vb | |
| 'characterizable or characterise | |
| —adj | |
| 'characterisable or characterise | |
| —adj | |
| 'characterizer or characterise | |
| —n | |
| 'characteriser or characterise | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
characterize
1591, "to engrave, write," from M.L. characterizare, from Gk. kharakterizein "to designate by a characteristic mark," from kharakter (see character). Meaning "to describe the qualities of" is recorded from 1633; that of "to be characteristic" is from 1744.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Therefore, obviously the ecology of multicellular organisms' microbial flora is essential to properly characterize.
The first endeavor of the psychiatrist is to characterize the symptom by some distinctive feature.
Ornate, centuries-old mansions and oak-lined streets characterize this area of the city.
The simplest way to characterize the movement is people playing a lot of notes all at once.
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