characterize — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [Stephen] Miller’s uncle, a neuroscientist, has been welcomed onto the public stage for his denunciations of his nephew’s immigration policies, which the elder Miller has characterized as hypocritical: the Millers’ not-so-distant Jewish ancestors were, of course, immigrants themselves.

2. To be typical of.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   There is no way to avoid the slight cups, crooks, bows and twists that characterize wood.

3. To determine the characteristics of.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The second level of reading we will call Inspectional Reading. It is characterized by its special emphasis on time.

   More examples (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.

Verb

1. describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of

   Synonyms

   qualifycharacterise

   Broader terms

   rememberthink of

   Examples

   You can characterize his behavior as that of an egotist

   This poem can be characterized as a lament for a dead lover

2. be characteristic of

   Synonyms

   characterise

   Broader terms

   distinguishmarkdifferentiate

   Examples

   What characterizes a Venetian painting?