characterise
gb/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz/ us/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz/
B2
English
jellemez, ábrázol, karakterizál
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
jellemez
B2
Usage pattern:
characterise [someone/something]
It’s hard to characterise his music because it mixes several styles.
Nehéz jellemezni a zenéjét, mert több stílust kever.
The report characterises the new policy as risky and expensive.
A jelentés az új intézkedést kockázatosnak és költségesnek jellemzi.
She tried to characterise the mood in the office after the announcement.
Learner examples
Can you characterise his personality?
Tudnád jellemezni a személyiségét?
The article characterises the city as friendly.
A cikk barátságosnak írja le a várost.
Common mistake:
Often spelled characterize in American English; avoid confusing it with the noun characteristic.
Meaning
describe key qualities
Collocations
characterise a person
|characterise a situation
|characterise the problem
|characterise the period
|characterise the relationship
|characterise the difference
|characterise the approach
|attempt to characterise
|difficult to characterise
|accurately characterise
Synonyms
describe (More general and less formal.)
|
define (Often suggests stating essential qualities or limits more precisely.)
|
depict (Emphasises presenting an image, often in writing or art.)
Antonyms
misrepresent (Describes something inaccurately or misleadingly.)
|
obscure (Makes the true qualities harder to see or understand.)
Themes
communication
|education
|writing
Definition
To say what someone or something is like, focusing on the most important features.
To describe the main features or qualities that make someone or something recognisable.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
jellemez
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] characterises [someone/something]
A sense of humour characterises much of her writing.
Humorérzék jellemzi az írásainak nagy részét.
High humidity characterises the region in summer.
Nyáron magas páratartalom jellemzi a régiót.
Speed and precision characterise the best teams.
Learner examples
Kindness characterises her work.
Munkáját kedvesség jellemzi.
Long winters characterise this area.
Ezt a vidéket hosszú telek jellemzik.
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly use it for one-time events; it usually refers to typical, repeated features.
Meaning
be typical of something
Collocations
characterise an era
|characterise a style
|characterise his work
|characterise her leadership
|characterise the system
|characterise the region
|characterise the genre
|characterise the movement
|the optimism that characterises
|the violence that characterises
Synonyms
mark (Highlights something as a noticeable sign or feature.)
|
distinguish (Emphasises making something different from others.)
Antonyms
be uncharacteristic of (Describes something that is not typical.)
Themes
communication
|writing
Definition
To be something that is common or special in a person or thing.
To be a typical or distinguishing feature of a person, place, time, or thing.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
ábrázol
B2
Usage pattern:
characterise [someone/something] as [something]
The film characterises the detective as lonely but determined.
A film magányosnak, de elszántnak ábrázolja a nyomozót.
In the novel, the city is characterised as both beautiful and cruel.
A regény a várost egyszerre gyönyörűnek és kegyetlennek ábrázolja.
The journalist was criticised for how she characterised the protesters.
Learner examples
The book characterises him as brave.
A könyv bátorként mutatja be őt.
The movie characterises the town as dangerous.
A film veszélyesnek mutatja be a várost.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse characterise (describe/portray) with act (perform a role).
Meaning
portray in writing or art
Collocations
characterise a hero
|characterise a villain
|characterise the protagonist
|characterise the narrator
|characterise a relationship
|characterise the setting
|characterise someone as
|strongly characterise
|clearly characterise
|subtly characterise
Synonyms
portray (Common in arts contexts; focuses on representation.)
|
depict (Often suggests a vivid, detailed picture.)
|
present (More neutral; focuses on how something is shown to an audience.)
Antonyms
whitewash (Portrays someone or something as better than they really are.)
|
caricature (Overstates features for humour or criticism rather than a balanced portrayal.)
Themes
arts
|media
|writing
Definition
To show a person or situation in a story in a certain way.
To present or describe a person, character, or situation in a particular way, especially in literature, film, or other art.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
karakterizál
C2
jellemez
C1
Usage pattern:
characterise [material/substance/system]
The team used microscopy to characterise the surface of the coating.
A csoport mikroszkópiát használt a bevonat felületének karakterizálására.
Researchers are working to characterise the new strain of the virus.
A kutatók az új vírustörzs karakterizálásán dolgoznak.
The study characterises how the material behaves under stress.
Learner examples
Scientists characterise the new material.
A tudósok karakterizálják az új anyagot.
We need to characterise the sample first.
Először karakterizálnunk kell a mintát.
Common mistake:
In scientific writing, characterise is broader than measure: it usually includes identifying what something is and what properties it has.
Meaning
identify and describe scientifically
Collocations
characterise a material
|characterise a compound
|characterise a sample
|characterise a protein
|characterise a virus
|characterise the structure
|characterise the surface
|characterise the data
|fully characterise
|characterise experimentally
Synonyms
analyse (Focuses on examining parts or data to understand something.)
|
profile (Often means creating a summary set of measured features.)
|
identify (Can be narrower: finding what something is, not necessarily all properties.)
Antonyms
leave unanalysed (Does not examine or describe properties.)
Themes
science
|technology
|education
Definition
To study something carefully to find out its properties.
To identify and describe the features, properties, or structure of something by study, testing, or analysis.
Grammar
Dictionary form
characterise
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz/
US/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
char - ac - ter - ise (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (char)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: characterise
- 3rd Person Singular: characterises
- Present Participle: characterising
- Past: characterised
Word family
Forms
characterises
verb
characterising
verb
characterised
verb
Core family
Related words
characteristically
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
mischaracterise
verb
mischaracterisation
noun
Expressions
be characterised by [something]
1/bˈi t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪzd bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
have a typical feature
To have something as a typical or main feature.
Examples
- The 1990s were characterised by rapid technological change.
- Her leadership style is characterised by calm decision-making.
- The disease is characterised by severe fatigue.
Learner examples
- The region is characterised by long winters.
- His work is characterised by simple designs.
characterise [someone/something] as [something]
1/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈæz sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
describe someone in a way
To say that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing.
Examples
- He characterised the decision as a mistake.
- The newspaper characterised her as a brilliant negotiator.
- Several witnesses characterised the night as chaotic.
Learner examples
- They characterised the plan as dangerous.
- She characterised him as honest.
characterise [something] by [something]
1/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz sˈʌmθɪŋ bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
describe using a key feature
To describe something mainly by one important feature.
Examples
- You can characterise the market by the level of competition.
- The two approaches are characterised by different assumptions.
- The authors characterise the period by political instability.
Learner examples
- We can characterise the group by age.
- They characterise the style by its bright colours.
characterise [something] in terms of [something]
1/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚˌaɪz sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈɪn tˈɚmz əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
describe using a framework
To explain something mainly by using a particular set of ideas or measures.
Examples
- The problem is often characterised in terms of cost rather than safety.
- He characterised success in terms of long-term impact.
- The researchers characterised the response in terms of peak intensity and duration.
Learner examples
- They characterised the results in terms of speed.
- She characterised the issue in terms of fairness.