Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

features

 - 5 dictionary results

fea⋅ture

[fee-cher] noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing.
–noun
1. a prominent or conspicuous part or characteristic: Tall buildings were a new feature on the skyline.
2. something offered as a special attraction: This model has several added features.
3. Also called feature film. the main motion picture in a movie program: What time is the feature?
4. any part of the face, as the nose, chin, or eyes: prominent features.
5. features, the face; countenance: to compose one's features for the photographers.
6. the form or cast of the face: delicate of feature.
7. a column, cartoon, etc., appearing regularly in a newspaper or magazine.
8. feature story.
9. Archaic. make, form, or shape.
–verb (used with object)
10. to be a feature or distinctive mark of: It was industrial expansion that featured the last century.
11. to make a feature of; give prominence to: to feature a story or picture in a newspaper.
12. to delineate the main characteristics of; depict; outline.
13. Informal. to conceive of; imagine; fancy: He couldn't quite feature himself as a bank president.
14. Older Use. to resemble in features; favor.
–verb (used without object)
15. to play a major part.

Origin:
1350–1400; 1905–10 for def. 3; ME feture < AF, MF faiture < L factūra a making. See fact, -ure


1. Feature, characteristic, peculiarity refer to a distinctive trait of an individual or of a class. Feature suggests an outstanding or marked property that attracts attention: Complete harmony was a feature of the convention. Characteristic means a distinguishing mark or quality (or one of such) always associated in one's mind with a particular person or thing: Defiance is one of his characteristics. Peculiarity means that distinct or unusual characteristic that marks off an individual in the class to which he, she, or it belongs: A blue-black tongue is a peculiarity of the chow chow.

feature story

–noun
1. a newspaper or magazine article or report of a person, event, an aspect of a major event, or the like, often having a personal slant and written in an individual style. Compare follow-up (def. 3b), hard news, news story.
2. the main or most prominent story in a magazine.
Also called feature.


Origin:
1910–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To features
fea·ture   (fē'chər)   
n.  
    1. Any of the distinct parts of the face, as the eyes, nose, or mouth.

    2. The overall appearance of the face or its parts. Often used in the plural.

    3. A property of linguistic units or forms: Nasality is a phonological feature.

    4. In generative linguistics, any of various abstract entities that combine to specify underlying phonological, morphological, semantic, and syntactic properties of linguistic forms and that act as the targets of linguistic rules and operations.

    5. The main film presentation at a theater.

    6. A full-length film.

    7. Outward appearance; form or shape.

    8. Physical beauty.

  1. A prominent or distinctive aspect, quality, or characteristic: a feature of one's personality; a feature of the landscape.

  2. Linguistics

    1. A property of linguistic units or forms: Nasality is a phonological feature.

    2. In generative linguistics, any of various abstract entities that combine to specify underlying phonological, morphological, semantic, and syntactic properties of linguistic forms and that act as the targets of linguistic rules and operations.

    3. The main film presentation at a theater.

    4. A full-length film.

    5. Outward appearance; form or shape.

    6. Physical beauty.

    1. The main film presentation at a theater.

    2. A full-length film.

    3. Outward appearance; form or shape.

    4. Physical beauty.

  3. A special attraction at an entertainment.

  4. A prominent or special article, story, or department in a newspaper or periodical.

  5. An item advertised or offered as particularly attractive or as an inducement: a washing machine with many features.

  6. Archaic

    1. Outward appearance; form or shape.

    2. Physical beauty.

tr.v.   fea·tured, fea·tur·ing, fea·tures
  1. To give special attention to; display, publicize, or make prominent.

  2. To have or include as a prominent part or characteristic: The play featured two well-known actors.

  3. To depict or outline the features of.

  4. Informal To picture mentally; imagine: Can you feature her in that hat?


[Middle English feture, from Old French faiture, from Latin factūra, a working or making, from factus, past participle of facere, to make, do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

feature  (n.)
c.1325, from Anglo-Fr. feture, from O.Fr. faiture "fashion, shape, form," from L. facura "a formation," from facere "make, do, perform" (see factitious). Sense of "facial characteristic" is c.1350; that of "any distinctive part" first recorded 1692. The v. sense of "make special display or attraction of" is 1888.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: fea·ture
Pronunciation: 'fE-ch&r
Function: noun
1 : the structure, form, or appearance especially of a person
2 a : the makeup or appearance of the face or its parts b : a part of the face
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see features on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: