What does characterize mean?

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

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word characterize.

Princeton's WordNet

  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?"

GCIDE

  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.

Wiktionary

  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 Dictionary

  1. To Characterizeverb

    Etymology: from character.

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

    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.

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

ChatGPT

  1. characterize

    To characterize means to describe or define the distinctive qualities, features or traits of someone or something. It often involves analyzing and detailing the essential attributes or aspects that make up the nature or identity of a person, object or concept.

Webster Dictionary

  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 Contribution

  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

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

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

How to pronounce characterize?

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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. Jonathan Miller:

    Over the past few years, we've passed the affordability threshold, with the loss of the ability to comfortably use all the amenities that characterize living in a city -- restaurants, retail, bars, all the cultural events that were at your beck and call as a resident of Manhattan -- people are questioning it. Those were the salve on affordability.

  2. Tucker Carlson:

    It was dismissive. Condescending and dismissive, those are the words I characterize in the book.

  3. Jennifer Levi:

    To characterize( the administration's position) as extraordinary or overreaching shows a complete misunderstanding of what these agencies do.

  4. George Conway:

    I don't think I would characterize it so much as a third party as a coalition. I don't think a third party necessarily works in the kind of political system we have with a single member districts, but there is a need for people who have a conservative to moderate point-of-view and want to believe in the rule of law and they need a place to go and a place where they can organize and support candidates that are consistent with that.

  5. 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 on the street to murder other African-American children.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

characterize#10000#17004#100000

Translations for characterize

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"characterize." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/characterize>.

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