Definitions for characterize
ˈkær ɪk təˌraɪzchar·ac·ter·ize

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. qualify, characterize, characteriseverb

   describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of

   "You can characterize his behavior as that of an egotist"; "This poem can be characterized as a lament for a dead lover"

2. characterize, characteriseverb

   be characteristic of

   "What characterizes a Venetian painting?"

GCIDERate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Characterizeverb

   (Chem.) to identify the structure or nature of; as, the antibiotic activity in the sample was characterized by HPLC, and proved to be erythromycin.

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. characterizeverb

   To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative.)

2. characterizeverb

   To determine the characteristics of.

3. Etymology: From characterizare, from χαρακτηρίζω, from χαρακτήρ.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Characterizeverb

   Etymology: from character.

   1. To give a character or an account of the personal qualities of any man.

   It is some commendation, that we have avoided publickly to characterize any person, without long experience. Jonathan Swift.

   2. To engrave, or imprint.

   They may be called anticipations, prenotions, or sentiments characterized and engraven in the soul, born with it, and growing up with it. Matthew Hale, Origin of Mankind.

   3. To mark with a particular stamp or token.

   There are faces not only individual, but gentilitious and national; European, Asiatick, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are characterized. John Arbuthnot, on Air.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Characterizeverb

   to make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features

2. Characterizeverb

   to engrave or imprint

3. Characterizeverb

   to indicate the character of; to describe

4. Characterizeverb

   to be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of

5. Etymology: [LL. characterizare, Gr. : cf. F. charactriser.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. characterize

   To express the character of.

   They did characterize the president beautifully as a loving, kind, empathetic and passionate being.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 15, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Distinguish
   • Think Of

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'characterize' in Verbs Frequency: #949

How to pronounce characterize?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say characterize in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of characterize in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of characterize in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of characterize in a Sentence

1. Former President Bill Clinton:

   I don't know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack and sent them out onto the streets to murder other African-American children, maybe you thought they were good citizens, she didn’t.

2. Nick Pope:

   I think the best way to characterize MUFON is to say that its a broad church.

3. Bill Clinton:

   I don't know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped on crack and sent them out on the street to murder other African-American children, maybe you thought they were good citizens. Hillary Clinton didn't.

4. Peter Berkowitz:

   There's something in my mind worrisome and off in declaring what the authentic conservative position is, the better way to characterize the tradition is really an unending debate between these two sides.

5. Stephen Lawson:

   Ron DeSantis was obviously talking about Florida not making the wrong decision to embrace the socialist policies that Andrew Gillum espouses. To characterize it as anything else is absurd.

Popularity rank by frequency of use