caracterizar
characterize
Definition & meaning
Caracterizar means:
- To characterize or describe someone or something by identifying its distinctive qualities.
- To be characteristic of someone or something; to distinguish it from others.
- To portray or transform a performer into a character, especially through costume or makeup. In this sense, it is often used reflexively as caracterizarse .
Grammar & Word origin
It is a regular -ar verb. Before e, the spelling changes from z to c to preserve the sound, as in caractericé , “I characterized.”
It is formed from carácter , “character” or “distinctive quality,” and the verb-forming suffix -izar, meaning roughly “to make” or “to give a quality to.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- describir — “to describe”; broader and does not necessarily focus on distinctive traits.
- distinguir — “to distinguish”; emphasizes what sets someone or something apart.
- definir — “to define”; suggests stating essential qualities, often more precisely.
- disfrazar — “to disguise”; similar in the theatrical sense, but emphasizes changing or concealing appearance.
There is no single antonym that fits every meaning. For describing distinctive qualities, generalizar , “to generalize,” can contrast with it when individual traits are overlooked.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Muchas leyendas se caracterizan por sus historias fantásticas.verb
Many legends are characterized by their fantastic stories.
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