trait
[ treyt; British also trey ]
/ treɪt; British also treɪ /
noun
a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature: bad traits of character.
a pen or pencil stroke.
a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality: a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.
Origin of trait
1470–80; < Middle French: literally, something drawn < Latin
tractus. See
tract1
SYNONYMS FOR trait
Words nearby trait
trainmaster,
trainshed,
trainsick,
trainspotterish,
traipse,
trait,
traitor,
traitorous,
traitress,
trajan,
traject
Example sentences from the Web for trait
British Dictionary definitions for trait
trait
/ (treɪt, treɪ) /
noun
a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing
rare
a touch or stroke
Word Origin for trait
C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin
tractus, from
trahere to drag
Medical definitions for trait
trait
[ trāt ]
n.
A genetically determined structure, attribute, or function.
A distinct pattern of behavior.
Scientific definitions for trait
trait
[ trāt ]
A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.