characterize

[ kar-ik-tuh-rahyz ]
/ ˈkær ɪk təˌraɪz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR characterize ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Words related to characterize

portray, represent, outline, describe, mark, indicate, identify, symbolize, define, delineate, style, signalize, discriminate, stamp, brand, singularize, feature, pigeonhole, personalize, constitute

Example sentences from the Web for characterize

British Dictionary definitions for characterize

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