I. ˈfēchə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English feture, from Middle French faiture, feture, from Latin factura act of making, formation, from factus (past participle of facere to make, do) + -ura -ure — more at do
1.
a. : the makeup, structure, form, or outward appearance of a person or thing
a man of large feature
b. obsolete : a part of the body : limb
c. : something that goes to make up something else : element , part , constituent
a feature of English grammar is the number of periphrastic forms
it is also possible to hear features of pitch and intonation — Stanley Newman
this course teaches the student the features, operation, and care of darkroom equipment — Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
it was a bad evening from then on, its only good feature being its shortness — Lloyd Alexander
2.
a. : the makeup or cast of the face or its parts : facial aspect or appearance
stern of feature even when he smiled
b.
(1) : a part of the face : lineament
a man with oriental features
her head … seems too small for her generous features — Time
(2) features plural : face. countenance
an embarrassed blush on his features
c. obsolete : physical beauty
cheated of feature by dissembling nature — Shakespeare
d. : distinctive outline, form, or quality
could not well describe the features of the painting
an experience with no special or distinctive feature
3. archaic : a shape or a thing with form : a visible form : apparition
4.
a. : a marked element of something : something that is especially prominent : peculiarity , characteristic
sparse pine growth was a feature of the landscape
b. : something offered to the public or to a clientele that is exhibited or advertised as particularly attractive : a special inducement: as
(1) : a distinctive, prominent, or unusual article, story, or picture (as one with strong emotional or human-interest appeal) in a newspaper or periodical
an account of the fire was a feature of the Sunday supplement
especially : a newspaper story that consists of background or analysis or that depends on unusual treatment as contrasted with a straight news story
(2) : a special department in a newspaper or periodical
detailed weather reports are a feature of the morning paper
(3) : the main presentation in a program at a motion-picture theater : a film of considerable length presented as the main attraction at a theater
5. : an evidence of human occupation (as a house floor, fire pit, or storage pit) encountered in archaeological excavation
II. verb
( featured ; featured ; featuring -ch(ə)riŋ ; features )
transitive verb
1. now dialect : to resemble in features : favor
2. : to be a feature of
another performance of the Haydn Mass … featured our stop in Atlanta — R.K.Leopold
agricultural radicalism featured the period from 1880 to 1896 — C.A.M.Ewing
3. : to picture or portray in the mind : imagine
can you feature wearing a necktie out here — K.M.Dodson
4.
a. : to make a feature of : give special prominence to
the newspaper featured the story of the murder
the theater was featuring a murder-mystery film
b. : to be marked by : have as a characteristic or feature
the string quartets feature a style more characteristic of the last century than this one
c. : to provide with a special feature
their annual Blossom Festival, featured by parades, balls, concerts — American Guide Series: Michigan
intransitive verb
: to play a significant part : comprise a feature
other lesser-known figures who feature in the book — Times Literary Supplement
a Ten-Year Plan in which … urgently needed rehousing, hydroelectric, and other development schemes were intended to feature largely — New Statesman & Nation
III. adjective
: being a special or main attraction : constituting a feature
a feature story on candidates' wives
a feature performer
a feature picture
IV. noun
: any of the properties (as voice or gender) that are characteristic of a grammatical element (as a phoneme or morpheme) ; especially : one that is distinctive