characterize

[ kar-ik-tuh-rahyz ]
/ ˈkær ɪk təˌraɪz /

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.
Also especially British, char·ac·ter·ise.

Origin of characterize

1585–95; < Medieval Latin charactērizāre < Greek charaktērízein. See character, -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM characterize

Words nearby characterize

characteristic root, characteristic vector, characteristic velocity, characteristic x-ray, characterization, characterize, charactery, charactonym, charade, charades, charanga

Example sentences from the Web for characterise

British Dictionary definitions for characterise

characterize

characterise

/ (ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz) /

verb (tr)

to be a characteristic of loneliness characterized the place
to distinguish or mark as a characteristic
to describe or portray the character of

Derived forms of characterize

characterizable or characterisable, adjective characterizer or characteriser, noun