different between classify vs characterize

English

Etymology

From French classifier.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?klæs.?.fa?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?klæs.??fa?/

Verb

classify (third-person singular simple present classifies, present participle classifying, simple past and past participle classified)

1. to identify by or divide into classes; to categorize

2. to declare something a secret, especially a government secret

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:classify

Antonyms

• (to declare a secret): declassify

Related terms

• class
• classification

Translations

See also

• arrange
• distribute
• rank

Further reading

• classify in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• classify in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Alternative forms

• characterise

Etymology

From Medieval Latin characterizare, from Ancient Greek ??????????? (kharakt?ríz?, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from ???????? (kharakt?r, “a mark, character”). Synchronically analyzable as character +? -ize.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k???kt??a?z/, /?kæ??kt??a?z/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kæ??kt??a?z/
• Hyphenation: char?ac?ter?ize

Verb

characterize (third-person singular simple present characterizes, present participle characterizing, simple past and past participle characterized)

1. (transitive) To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative).
2. (transitive) To be typical of.
3. (transitive) To determine the characteristics of.

Derived terms

• characterization
• subcharacterize

Translations

Further reading

• characterize in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• characterize in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.