character

[kar-ik-ter] /ˈkær ɪk tər/
noun
1.
the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2.
one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3.
moral or ethical quality:
a man of fine, honorable character.
4.
qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity:
It takes character to face up to a bully.
5.
reputation:
a stain on one's character.
6.
good repute.
7.
an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
8.
a person, especially with reference to behavior or personality:
a suspicious character.
9.
Informal. an odd, eccentric, or unusual person.
10.
a person represented in a drama, story, etc.
11.
a part or role, as in a play or film.
12.
a symbol as used in a writing system, as a letter of the alphabet.
13.
the symbols of a writing system collectively.
14.
a significant visual mark or symbol.
15.
status or capacity:
the character of a justice of the peace.
16.
a written statement from an employer concerning the qualities of a former employee.
17.
Literature. (especially in 17th- and 18th-century England) a formal character sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular human virtue or vice as represented in a person or type.
Compare character sketch.
18.
Genetics. any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.
19.
Computers.
  1. any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.
  2. one of a set of basic symbols that singly or in a series of two or more represents data and, when encoded, is usable in a computer.
20.
a style of writing or printing.
21.
Roman Catholic Theology. the ineffaceable imprint received on the soul through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
22.
(formerly) a cipher or cipher message.
adjective
23.
Theater.
  1. (of a part or role) representing a personality type, especially by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
  2. (of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.
verb (used with object), Archaic.
24.
to portray; describe.
25.
to engrave; inscribe.
Idioms
26.
in character,
  1. in harmony with one's personal character or disposition:
    Such behavior is not in character for him.
  2. in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance:
    an actor in character.
27.
out of character,
  1. out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition:
    Her remarks were out of character.
  2. away from the role or personality assumed in a performance:
    The actor stepped out of character.
Origin
1275-1325; < Latin < Greek charaktḗr graving tool, its mark, equivalent to charak- (base of charáttein to engrave) + -tēr agent suffix; replacing Middle English caractere < Middle French < Latin, as above
Related forms
characterless, adjective
uncharactered, adjective
Synonyms
1. Character, individuality, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. Character refers especially to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles, and the like: a man of sterling character. Individuality refers to the distinctive qualities that make one recognizable as a person differentiated from others: a woman of strong individuality. Personality refers particularly to the combination of outer and inner characteristics that determine the impression that a person makes upon others: a child of vivid or pleasing personality. 5. name, repute. See reputation. 14. sign.
Examples from the web for characters
  • Endorphin is a piece of software that generates virtual characters.
  • The fairy castle decor provides a magical setting for story times featuring costumed characters.
  • Many modern readers, tired of appeals to their sympathy, consider all of these characters pathetic in the negative sense.
  • Dutch researcher designs distinct characters into.
  • It plays out through the narratives and the characters and the wars that ensue.
  • Pick a novel or a movie, and discuss the characters.
  • But the themes recur and overlap, and some of the characters are linked.
  • characters in your films have excavated ancient sites and traveled the world aboard tramp steamers.
  • Instead, they will use complex software applications designed to power video games, as well as computer-generated characters.
  • Some of the characters and subplots have disappeared altogether.
British Dictionary definitions for characters

character

/ˈkærɪktə/
noun
1.
the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing
2.
one such distinguishing quality; characteristic
3.
moral force; integrity: a man of character
4.
  1. reputation, esp a good reputation
  2. (as modifier): character assassination
5.
a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonial: my last employer gave me a good character
6.
capacity, position, or status: he spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father
7.
a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role
8.
an outstanding person: one of the great characters of the century
9.
(informal) an odd, eccentric, or unusual person: he's quite a character
10.
an informal word for person a shady character
11.
a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet
12.
(printing) Also called sort. any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type
13.
(computing) any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern
14.
a style of writing or printing
15.
(genetics) any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes
16.
a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue
17.
in character, typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
18.
out of character, not typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
verb (transitive)
19.
to write, print, inscribe, or engrave
20.
(rare) to portray or represent
Derived Forms
characterful, adjective
characterless, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Latin: distinguishing mark, from Greek kharaktēr engraver's tool, from kharassein to engrave, stamp
Word Origin and History for characters

character

n.

mid-14c., carecter, "symbol marked or branded on the body;" mid-15c., "symbol or drawing used in sorcery," from Old French caratere "feature, character" (13c., Modern French caractère), from Latin character, from Greek kharakter "engraved mark," also "symbol or imprint on the soul," also "instrument for marking," from kharassein "to engrave," from kharax "pointed stake," from PIE root *gher- "to scrape, scratch." Meaning extended in ancient times by metaphor to "a defining quality."

You remember Eponina, who kept her husband alive in an underground cavern so devotedly and heroically? The force of character she showed in keeping up his spirits would have been used to hide a lover from her husband if they had been living quietly in Rome. Strong characters need strong nourishment. [Stendhal "de l'Amour," 1822]
Meaning "sum of qualities that define a person" is from 1640s. Sense of "person in a play or novel" is first attested 1660s, in reference to the "defining qualities" he or she is given by the author. Meaning "a person" in the abstract is from 1749; especially "eccentric person" (1773). Colloquial sense of "chap, fellow" is from 1931. The Latin ch- spelling was restored from 1500s. Character actor attested from 1861; character assassination from 1888; character-building (n.) from 1886.

characters in Medicine

character char·ac·ter (kār'ək-tər)
n.
An attribute, trait, or distinct structural or functional feature. Also called characteristic.

characters in Science
character
  (kār'ək-tər)   

  1. Genetics A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or a group of genes.

  2. Computer Science A symbol, such as a letter, number, or punctuation mark, that occupies one byte of memory. See more at ASCII.


characters in Culture

character definition


A person in a literary work. For example, Ebenezer Scrooge is a character in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.

Slang definitions & phrases for characters

character

noun
  1. A person who behaves oddly and often amusingly; an eccentric: My uncle's quite a character (1770s+)
  2. A person; joker: You know a character name of Robert Ready? (1920s+)

Idioms and Phrases with characters

character

see:
Encyclopedia Article for characters

character

in biology, any observable feature, or trait, of an organism, whether acquired or inherited. An acquired character is a response to the environment; an inherited character is produced by genes transmitted from parent to offspring (their expressions are often modified by environmental conditions). One gene may affect many characters; one character may be controlled by many genes. A character controlled by only a few genes is known as an oligogenic, discontinuous, or qualitative character; a character controlled by many genes is termed polygenic, continuous, or quantitative. A genetically controlled character may be termed dominant when its controlling genes are powerful enough to mask the effect of other genes (alleles) that control an alternative character, termed recessive

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