( BrE also char·ac·ter·ise ) / ˈkærəktəraɪz; NAmE / verb [ vn ] ( formal )
1.
to be typical of a person, place or thing :
the rolling hills that characterize this part of England
2.
[ often passive ] to give sth its typical or most noticeable qualities or features :
The city is characterized by tall modern buildings in steel and glass.
3.
characterize sb/sth (as sth) to describe or show the qualities of sb/sth in a particular way :
activities that are characterized as 'male' or 'female' work
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense engrave, inscribe ): from French caractériser or medieval Latin characterizare , from Greek kharaktērizein , from kharaktēr a stamping tool.