'Characterize' definitions:
Definition of 'characterize'
(from WordNet)
verb
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" [syn: qualify, characterize, characterise]
verb
Be characteristic of; "What characterizes a Venetian painting?" [syn: characterize, characterise]
Definition of 'Characterize'
From: GCIDE
- Characterize \Char"ac*ter*ize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] [LL. characterizare, Gr. ?: cf. F. charact['e]riser.]
- 1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features. [1913 Webster]
- European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] --Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To indicate the character of; to describe. [1913 Webster]
- Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of. [1913 Webster]
- The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. --W. Irving.
- 5. (Chem.) to identify the structure or nature of; as, the antibiotic activity in the sample was characterized by HPLC, and proved to be erythromycin. [PJC]
- Syn: To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize; entitle. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'characterize'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adumbrate,
- argue,
- be characteristic,
- be indicative of,
- be significant of,
- be symptomatic of,
- bespeak,
- betoken,
- block out,
- brand,
- bring to life,
- catch a likeness,
- chalk out,
- character,
- chart,
- connote,
- define,
- delineate,
- demarcate,
- denominate,
- denote,
- depict,
- describe,
- diagram,
- differentiate,
- disclose,
- display,
- distinguish,
- draft,
- draw,
- earmark,
- entail,
- evoke,
- express,
- give evidence,
- give token,
- give words to,
- highlight,
- hint,
- hit off,
- identify,
- indicate,
- individualize,
- individuate,
- involve,
- keynote,
- label,
- limn,
- manifest,
- map,
- mark,
- mark off,
- mark out,
- mean,
- notate,
- note,
- outline,
- paint,
- peculiarize,
- personalize,
- picture,
- picturize,
- portray,
- print,
- qualify,
- register,
- render,
- represent,
- reveal,
- rough out,
- rub,
- schematize,
- set apart,
- set forth,
- set the pace,
- set the tone,
- show,
- signalize,
- signify,
- skeleton,
- sketch,
- sound the keynote,
- stand for,
- suggest,
- symbolize,
- symptomatize,
- symptomize,
- take a rubbing,
- testify,
- trace,
- trace out,
- trace over,
- write