characterize
[ kar-ik-tuh-rahyz ]
/ ˈkær ɪk təˌraɪz /
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verb (used with object), char·ac·ter·ized, char·ac·ter·iz·ing.
to mark or distinguish as a characteristic; be a characteristic of: Rich metaphors characterize his poetry.
to describe the character or individual quality of: He characterized her in a few well-chosen words.
to attribute character to: to characterize him as a coward.
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Also especially British, char·ac·ter·ise .
Origin of characterize
OTHER WORDS FROM characterize
char·ac·ter·iz·a·ble, adjectivechar·ac·ter·iz·er, nounmis·char·ac·ter·ize, verb (used with object), mis·char·ac·ter·ized, mis·char·ac·ter·iz·ing.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 Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use characterize in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for characterize
characterize
characterise
/ (ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz) /
verb (tr)
to be a characteristic ofloneliness characterized the place
to distinguish or mark as a characteristic
to describe or portray the character of
Derived forms of characterize
characterizable or characterisable, adjectivecharacterizer or characteriser, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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