characterisation
gb/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/ us/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
formal
C1
abstract
1
a description or portrayal
A way of describing someone or something.
Schéma d’usage :
the characterisation of [someone/something] (as [something])
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with character (a person in a story) or characteristic (a feature). In American English, the usual spelling is characterization.
Synonymes
portrayal (Often suggests a picture-like representation or depiction.)
|
description (More general and less evaluative than characterisation.)
Antonymes
misrepresentation (A portrayal that is false or unfair.)
Collocations
a characterisation of
|a vivid characterisation
|a harsh characterisation
|an accurate characterisation
|a misleading characterisation
|characterisation as
|a characterisation of him as
|public characterisation
|media characterisation
|political characterisation
Thèmes
communication
|media
|writing
Exemples
- The report’s characterisation of the community as “lawless” was widely criticised.
- I disagree with your characterisation of her decision as selfish.
- His characterisation of the meeting made it sound far more dramatic than it was.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I don’t like that characterisation of my friend.
- The article gave an unfair characterisation of the city.
Nom
formal
C1
process
2
creating characters in a story
How a writer or actor shows what a character is like.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone]'s characterisation of [a character]
Erreur fréquente :
Not the same as character (the person in the story). It refers to how the character is shown to the audience.
Synonymes
character development (Emphasises change and growth over time rather than the overall presentation.)
Antonymes
flatness (Lack of depth or complexity in characters.)
Collocations
strong characterisation
|weak characterisation
|characterisation and plot
|characterisation in the novel
|characterisation in drama
|methods of characterisation
|characterisation through dialogue
|characterisation through action
|effective characterisation
|realistic characterisation
Thèmes
literature
|film_tv
|education
Exemples
- The novel is remembered for its subtle characterisation and sharp dialogue.
- Her characterisation of the villain made him sympathetic as well as frightening.
- Teachers often use the story to discuss characterisation and theme.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The film has great characterisation.
- Good characterisation makes the characters feel real.
Nom
technical
C1
process
3
analysing and describing properties
Studying something carefully to describe its main features.
Schéma d’usage :
the characterisation of [a material/organism/process]
Erreur fréquente :
Often used with of and in academic writing; in American English, characterization is more common.
Synonymes
profiling (Less formal; often implies building a set of measured features.)
|
analysis (Broader term; may not specifically mean describing distinguishing features.)
Antonymes
guesswork (The opposite of systematic investigation and description.)
Collocations
material characterisation
|chemical characterisation
|genetic characterisation
|microstructural characterisation
|experimental characterisation
|characterisation methods
|characterisation techniques
|characterisation data
|characterisation study
|thorough characterisation
Thèmes
science
|technology
|health
Exemples
- The paper includes a full characterisation of the alloy’s mechanical properties.
- Further characterisation is needed before the compound can be used in medicines.
- They used microscopy for the characterisation of the surface structure.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The lab did a characterisation of the sample.
- We need more characterisation before we decide.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
characterisation
API
GB/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
US/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
Syllabes et accentuation
char - ac - ter - isa - tion (5 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (char)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: characterisation
- Plural: characterisation, characterisations
Famille de mots
Forms
characterisations
noun
Core family
Related words
characteristically
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
characterisation of [someone/something] as [something]
1/t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən əv sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈæz sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
describing someone as something
A formal way to say how someone is described.
Exemples
- The characterisation of the policy as “a disaster” dominated the headlines.
- I reject the characterisation of his remarks as offensive.
- Her characterisation of the project as a failure was premature.
direct characterisation
1/dɪɹˈɛkt t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
stating a character’s traits
When a story tells you directly what a character is like.
Exemples
- The opening chapter relies on direct characterisation to introduce the hero.
- In direct characterisation, the narrator simply tells us she is ambitious.
- The teacher asked us to find examples of direct characterisation in the passage.
indirect characterisation
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
showing traits through actions
When a story shows what a character is like through what they do and say.
Exemples
- The author uses indirect characterisation to reveal his jealousy.
- Her impatience is clear through indirect characterisation, especially in the dialogue.
- Good indirect characterisation lets the reader draw conclusions.
material characterisation
1/mətˈɪɹiəl t͡ʃˈɑɹˈæktɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
testing a material’s properties
Lab work to learn a material’s main properties.
Exemples
- Material characterisation showed that the coating was porous.
- The project combines synthesis with material characterisation.
- They expanded the lab’s capacity for material characterisation using new imaging tools.