characterize
Contents
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Medieval Latin characterizare, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω (kharaktērízō, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “a mark, character”). Synchronically analyzable as character + -ize.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɛɹəktəɹaɪz/, /ˈkæɹəktəɹaɪz/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkæɹəktəɹaɪz/
- Hyphenation: char‧ac‧ter‧ize
Verb[edit]
characterize (third-person singular simple present characterizes, present participle characterizing, simple past and past participle characterized)
- to depict someone or something a particular way (often negative)
- to determine the characteristics of
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1998, Brian Voigt, “Glossary of Coastal Terminology”, in Department of Ecology Publication No. 98-105[1]:
- This glossary includes terminology used in coastal science, engineering, geology, management, nearshore oceanography and the technologies that characterize, measure, describe or quantify the physical properties, processes and changes of the coastal zone.
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Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to depict someone or something a particular way
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to determine the characteristics of
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Further reading[edit]
- characterize in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- characterize in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
