■ noun
1》 the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
↘strength and originality in a person's nature.
↘a person's good reputation.
2》 the distinctive nature of something: gas lamps give the area its ~.
3》 a person in a novel, play, or film.
↘a part played by an actor.
4》 informal an unusual or amusing person.
5》 a printed or written letter or symbol.
↘ Computing a symbol representing a letter or number.
6》 chiefly Biology a ~istic, especially one that assists in the identification of a species.
■ verb archaic inscribe or write (something).
↘describe.
Derivatives
~ful adjective
~fully adverb
~less adjective
Origin
ME (in the sense 'distinctive mark', later 'feature or trait'): from OFr. caractere , via L. from Gk kharaktēr 'a stamping tool'.