feature

[ fee-cher ]
See synonyms for feature on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. Also called feature film . the main motion picture in a movie program: What time is the feature?

  2. any part of the face, as the nose, chin, or eyes: prominent features.

  3. features, the face; countenance: to compose one's features for the photographers.

  4. the form or cast of the face: delicate of feature.

  5. a column, cartoon, etc., appearing regularly in a newspaper or magazine.

  6. Archaic. make, form, or shape.

verb (used with object),fea·tured, fea·tur·ing.
  1. to be a feature or distinctive mark of: It was industrial expansion that featured the last century.

  2. to make a feature of; give prominence to: to feature a story or picture in a newspaper.

  1. to delineate the main characteristics of; depict; outline.

  2. Informal. to conceive of; imagine; fancy: He couldn't quite feature himself as a bank president.

  3. Older Use. to resemble in features; favor.

verb (used without object),fea·tured, fea·tur·ing.
  1. to play a major part.

Origin of feature

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English feture, from Anglo-French, Middle French faiture, from Latin factūra “formation, manufacture.” See fact, -ure

synonym study For feature

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.

Other words from feature

  • trans·fea·ture, verb (used with object), trans·fea·tured, trans·fea·tur·ing.
  • un·der·fea·ture, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use feature in a sentence

  • There was no vivacity in his putty-coloured features, but there were promptitude and decision in every abrupt gesture.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • It was true that his sight had grown accustomed to the obscurity, for he could now see the baron's features much more distinctly.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • On a small scale map, in an office, you may make mole-hills of mountains; on the ground there's no escaping from its features.

  • The expression of his features was calm and composed, and his eyes were raised to heaven with a look of hope and supplication.

  • And so these features take on a kind of moral rightness before they are judged of as pleasing to the eye and as beautiful.

    Children's Ways | James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for feature

feature

/ (ˈfiːtʃə) /


noun
  1. any one of the parts of the face, such as the nose, chin, or mouth

  2. a prominent or distinctive part or aspect, as of a landscape, building, book, etc

  1. the principal film in a programme at a cinema

  2. an item or article appearing regularly in a newspaper, magazine, etc: a gardening feature

  3. Also called: feature story a prominent story in a newspaper, etc: a feature on prison reform

  4. a programme given special prominence on radio or television as indicated by attendant publicity

  5. an article offered for sale as a special attraction, as in a large retail establishment

  6. archaic general form or make-up

  7. linguistics a quality of a linguistic unit at some level of description: grammatical feature; semantic feature

verb
  1. (tr) to have as a feature or make a feature of

  2. to give prominence to (an actor, famous event, etc) in a film or (of an actor, etc) to have prominence in a film

  1. (tr) US informal to imagine; consider: I can't feature that happening

Origin of feature

1
C14: from Anglo-French feture, from Latin factūra a making, from facere to make

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012