To ascertain the origin, nature, or definitive characteristics of.
Biology To determine the taxonomic classification of (an organism).
To consider as identical or united; equate.
To associate or affiliate (oneself) closely with a person or group.
v.
intr.
To establish an identification with another or others.
[Medieval Latin identificāre, to make to resemble : Late Latin identitās, identity; see identity + Latin -ficāre, -fy.]
i·den'ti·fi'a·ble adj., i·den'ti·fi'a·bly adv., i·den'ti·fi'er n.
Usage Note: In the sense "to associate or affiliate (oneself) closely with a person or group," identify suggests a psychological empathy with the feelings or experiences of another person, as in Most young readers of The Catcher in the Rye will readily identify (or identify themselves) with Holden Caulfield. This usage derives originally from psychoanalytic writing, where it has a specific technical meaning, but like other terms from that field, it was widely regarded as jargon when introduced into wider use. In particular, some critics seized on the fact that in this sense the verb was often used intransitively, with no reflexive pronoun. In recent years, however, this use of identify with without the reflexive has become standard and may have become even more conventional than the reflexive construction. Eighty-two percent of the Usage Panel accepts the sentence I find it hard to identify with any of his characters, whereas only 63 percent now accepts this same usage when the reflexive pronoun is used, as in I find it hard to identify myself with any of his characters.
1644, "regard as the same," from Fr. identifier, from identité (see identity). Sense of "recognize" first recorded 1769. I.D. (pronounced as separate letters), short for identification, is attested from 1955.
recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something; "She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster"
2.
give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property; "Many senators were named in connection with the scandal"; "The almanac identifies the auspicious months" [syn: name]
3.
consider (oneself) as similar to somebody else; "He identified with the refugees"
4.
conceive of as united or associated; "Sex activity is closely identified with the hypothalamus"
5.
identify as in botany or biology, for example
6.
consider to be equal or the same; "He identified his brother as one of the fugitives"
Main Entry: iden·ti·fy Pronunciation: I-'dent-&-"fI, &- Function: verb Inflected Forms: -fied; -fy·ing transitive
senses : to determine the taxonomic position of (a biological specimen) identifyintransitive senses : to undergo or experience psychological identification
<identify with the hero of a novel>
Main Entry: iden·ti·fy Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: -fied; -fy·ing 1: to consider as united or associated (as in
interests or principles) <can ask leading questions of a witness who is identified with an adverse party> 2: to establish the identity of <identifying
the suspect> 3: to specify or designate (goods) as the object of a contract —used in the phrase identify to the contract <the disputed beans were goods
identified to the contract> NOTE: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, once goods are identified to a contract, the buyer has a special property interest and an insurable interest in the
goods. This gives the buyer the right to seek damages and other relief. This identification can be done at any time and in any manner agreed to by the parties or as otherwise specified in the
U.C.C. —iden·ti·fi·ableadjective —iden·ti·fi·ca·tionnoun
I*den"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Identified; p. pr. & vb. n. Identifying.] [Cf. F. identifier. See Identity, and -fy.]1. To make to be the same; to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one; to treat as being one or having the same purpose or effect; to consider as the same in any relation. Every precaution is taken to identify the interests of the people and of the rulers. --D. Ramsay. Let us identify, let us incorporate ourselves with the people. --Burke. 2. To establish the identity of; to prove to be the same with something described, claimed, or asserted; as, to identify stolen property.
I*den"ti*fy\, v. i. To become the same; to coalesce in interest, purpose, use, effect, etc. [Obs. or R.] An enlightened self-interest, which, when well understood, they tell us will identify with an interest more enlarged and public. --Burke.
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Audio Help [ahy-den-tuh-fahy, i-den-] Pronunciation Key verb, -fied, -fy·ing. 
