CHARACTERIZE

qualify, characterize, characterise

(verb) describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of; “You can characterize his behavior as that of an egotist”; “This poem can be characterized as a lament for a dead lover”

characterize, characterise

(verb) be characteristic of; “What characterizes a Venetian painting?”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

characterize (third-person singular simple present characterizes, present participle characterizing, simple past and past participle characterized)

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

(transitive) To be typical of.

(transitive) To determine the characteristics of.

Source: Wiktionary

Char"ac*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] Etym: [LL. characterizare, Gr. charactériser.]

1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features. European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. Arbuthot.

2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

3. To indicate the character of; to describe. Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson.

4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of. The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. W. Irving.

Syn.

– To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize; entitle.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition