iden|ti|fi|ca|tion /a I de nt I f I ke I ʃ ə n/ (identifications )
1 N‑VAR The identification of something is the recognition that it exists, is important, or is true. □ [+ of ] Early identification of a disease can prevent death and illness.
2 N‑VAR Your identification of a particular person or thing is your ability to name them because you know them or recognize them. □ [+ of ] He's made a formal identification of the body.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If someone asks you for some identification , they want to see something such as a driving licence, which proves who you are. □ The woman who was on passport control asked me if I had any further identification.
4 N‑VAR The identification of one person or thing with another is the close association of one with the other. □ [+ of/with ] …the identification of Spain with Catholicism.
5 N‑UNCOUNT Identification with someone or something is the feeling of sympathy and support for them. □ [+ with ] Marilyn had an intense identification with animals.
iden|ti|fy ◆◆◇ /a I de nt I fa I / (identifies , identifying , identified )
1 VERB If you can identify someone or something, you are able to recognize them or distinguish them from others. □ [V n] There are a number of distinguishing characteristics by which you can identify a Hollywood epic.
2 VERB If you identify someone or something, you name them or say who or what they are. □ [V n] Police have already identified around 10 murder suspects. □ [V n + as ] The reporters identified one of the six Americans as an Army Specialist.
3 VERB If you identify something, you discover or notice its existence. □ [V n] Scientists claim to have identified natural substances with cancer-combating properties.
4 VERB If a particular thing identifies someone or something, it makes them easy to recognize, by making them different in some way. □ [V n] She wore a little nurse's hat on her head to identify her. □ [V n + as ] His boots and purple beret identify him as commanding the Scottish Paratroops.
5 VERB If you identify with someone or something, you feel that you understand them or their feelings and ideas. □ [V + with ] She would only play a role if she could identify with the character.
6 VERB If you identify one person or thing with another, you think that they are closely associated or involved in some way. □ [V n + with ] She hates playing the sweet, passive women that audiences identify her with. □ [V pron-refl + with ] The candidates all want to identify themselves with reform. SYNONYMS identify VERB 1
recognize: He did not think she could recognize his car in the snow.
place: It was a voice he recognized, though he could not immediately place it.
name: One of the victims has been named as twenty-year-old John Barr.
remember: I can remember where and when I bought each one.
put your finger on: Amy couldn't quite put her finger on the reason.
pinpoint: It was almost impossible to pinpoint the cause of death.
iden|ti|kit /a I de nt I k I t/ (identikits ) also Identikit N‑COUNT An identikit or an identikit picture is a drawing of the face of someone the police want to question. It is made from descriptions given to them by witnesses to a crime. Compare e-fit , Photofit . [mainly BRIT , TRADEMARK ]
iden|tity ◆◇◇ /a I de nt I ti/ (identities )
1 N‑COUNT [with poss] Your identity is who you are. □ Abu is not his real name, but it's one he uses to disguise his identity.
2 N‑VAR [oft with poss, adj N ] The identity of a person or place is the characteristics they have that distinguish them from others. □ I wanted a sense of my own identity.
ide n|tity card (identity cards ) N‑COUNT An identity card is a card with a person's name, photograph, date of birth, and other information on it. In some countries, people are required to carry identity cards in order to prove who they are.
ide n|tity pa|rade (identity parades ) N‑COUNT At an identity parade , a witness to a crime tries to identify the criminal from among a line of people. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use line-up
ide n|tity theft N‑UNCOUNT Identity theft is the crime of getting personal information about another person without their knowledge, for example in order to gain access to their bank account. □ Because of the danger of identity theft, we are told not to give personal information over the phone.
ideo|gram / I dioʊgræm/ (ideograms )
1 N‑COUNT An ideogram is a sign or symbol that represents a particular idea or thing rather than a word. The writing systems of Japan and China, for example, use ideograms.
2 N‑COUNT In languages such as English which are written using letters and words, an ideogram is a sign or symbol that can be used to represent a particular word. %, @, and & are examples of ideograms.
ideo|logi|cal /a I diəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ideological means relating to principles or beliefs. □ Others left the party for ideological reasons. ● ideo|logi|cal|ly /a I diəlɒ dʒ I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v] □ …an ideologically sound organisation.
ideolo|gist /a I diɒ lədʒ I st/ (ideologists ) N‑COUNT An ideologist is someone who develops or supports a particular ideology.