Word Study
characterize
CIDE DICTIONARY
characterize, v. t. [LL. characterizare, Gr. : cf. F. charactériser.].
- 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." [1913 Webster]
- To engrave or imprint. Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]
- To indicate the character of; to describe. [1913 Webster]"Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William." [1913 Webster]
- 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."
- 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.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
characterize, v.tr. (also -ise)
1 a describe the character of. b (foll. by as) describe as.
2 be characteristic of.
3 impart character to.
1 a describe the character of. b (foll. by as) describe as.
2 be characteristic of.
3 impart character to.
Derivative
characterization n.
Etymology
F caract{eacute}riser or med.L characterizare f. Gk kharakterizo
THESAURUS
characterize
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, writeROGET THESAURUS
characterize
Nomenclature
VB name, call, term, denominate designate, style, entitle, clepe, dub, christen, baptize, characterize, specify, define, distinguish by the name of, label, be called, take the name of, bean the name of, go by the name of, be known by the name of, go under the name of, pass under the name of, rejoice in the name of.Description
VB describe, set forth, draw a picture, picture, portray, characterize, particularize, narrate, relate, recite, recount, sum up, run over, recapitulate, rehearse, fight one's battles over again, unfold a tale, tell, give an account of, render an account of, report, make a report, draw up a statement, detail, enter into particulars, enter into details, descend to particulars, descend to details, itemize.For further exploring for "characterize" in Webster Dictionary Online
