9 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a character , you mean that they are interesting, unusual, or amusing. [INFORMAL ] □ He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character.
10 N‑COUNT A character is a letter, number, or other symbol that is written or printed.
11 PHRASE If someone's actions are in character , they are doing what you would expect them to do, knowing what kind of person they are. If their actions are out of character , they are not doing what you would expect them to do. □ [+ for ] It was entirely in character for Rachel to put her baby first. □ What else could make him behave so out of character?
cha r|ac|ter ac|tor (character actors ) N‑COUNT A character actor is an actor who specializes in playing unusual or eccentric people.
cha r|ac|ter as|sas|si|na|tion (character assassinations ) N‑VAR A character assassination is a deliberate attempt to destroy someone's reputation, especially by criticizing them in an unfair and dishonest way when they are not present. □ [+ of ] A full-scale character assassination of the dead woman got underway in the tabloid press.
char|ac|ter|ful /kæ r I ktə r fʊl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as characterful , you mean that it is pleasant and interesting. [JOURNALISM ] □ …small characterful hotels serving local cuisine.
char|ac|ter|is|tic ◆◇◇ /kæ r I ktər I st I k/ (characteristics )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The characteristics of a person or thing are the qualities or features that belong to them and make them recognizable. □ [+ of ] Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing. □ …their physical characteristics.
2 ADJ A quality or feature that is characteristic of someone or something is one which is often seen in them and seems typical of them. □ Windmills are a characteristic feature of the Mallorcan landscape. □ Nehru responded with characteristic generosity. ● char|ac|ter|is|ti|cal|ly /kæ r I ktər I st I kli/ ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □ He replied in characteristically robust style. SYNONYMS characteristic NOUN 1
feature: The spacious gardens are a special feature of this property.
quality: …the pretentious quality of the poetry.
attribute: He has every attribute you could want and could play for any team.
trait: Creativity is a human trait.
property: A radio signal has both electrical and magnetic properties.
char|ac|teri|za|tion /kæ r I ktəra I ze I ʃ ə n/ (characterizations ) in BRIT, also use characterisation 1 N‑VAR Characterization is the way an author or an actor describes or shows what a character is like. □ [+ of ] …Chaucer's characterization of Criseyde.
2 → see also characterize
char|ac|ter|ize /kæ r I ktəra I z/ (characterizes , characterizing , characterized ) in BRIT, also use characterise 1 VERB If something is characterized by a particular feature or quality, that feature or quality is an obvious part of it. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + by ] This election campaign has been characterized by violence. □ [V n] A bold use of colour characterizes the bedroom.
2 VERB If you characterize someone or something as a particular thing, you describe them as that thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + as ] Both companies have characterized the relationship as friendly.
char|ac|ter|less /kæ r I ktə r ləs/ ADJ If you describe something as characterless , you mean that it is dull and uninteresting. □ The town is boring and characterless. □ …a bland and characterless meal.
cha r|ac|ter rec|og|ni |tion N‑UNCOUNT Character recognition is a process which allows computers to recognize written or printed characters such as numbers or letters and to change them into a form that the computer can use. [COMPUTING ]
cha|rade /ʃərɑː d, [AM ] -re I d/ (charades )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe someone's actions as a charade , you mean that their actions are so obviously false that they do not convince anyone. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I wondered why he had gone through the elaborate charade. □ [+ of ] The U.N. at the moment is still trying to maintain the charade of neutrality.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Charades is a game for teams of players in which one team acts a word or phrase, syllable by syllable, until other players guess the whole word or phrase.
char|coal /tʃɑː r koʊl/ N‑UNCOUNT Charcoal is a black substance obtained by burning wood without much air. It can be burned as a fuel, and small sticks of it are used for drawing with.
chard /tʃɑː r d/ N‑UNCOUNT Chard is a plant with a round root, large leaves, and a thick stalk.
charge ◆◆◆ /tʃɑː r dʒ/ (charges , charging , charged )
1 VERB If you charge someone an amount of money, you ask them to pay that amount for something that you have sold to them or done for them. □ [V n] Even local nurseries charge £100 a week. □ [V n + for ] The hospitals charge the patients for every aspirin. □ [V ] Some banks charge if you access your account to determine your balance. □ [V n n] …the architect who charged us a fee of seven hundred and fifty pounds.
2 VERB To charge something to a person or organization means to tell the people providing it to send the bill to that person or organization. To charge something to someone's account means to add it to their account so they can pay for it later. □ [V n + to ] Go out and buy a pair of glasses, and charge it to us. □ [be V -ed + to ] All transactions have been charged to your account.