character
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
characters
plural
characters
Britannica Dictionary definition of CHARACTER
1
[count]
:
the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves
:
someone's personality
— usually singular
— often used before another noun
-
He rarely shows his true character—that of a kind and sensitive person.
-
This is a side of her character that few people have seen.
-
the different aspects/facets of her character
-
Certain character traits are helpful in the teaching profession.
-
Pride, his one character flaw, caused his downfall.
2
[count]
:
a set of qualities that are shared by many people in a group, country, etc.
— usually singular
-
the character of the American people
-
the character of a nation
-
the French/Japanese/Mexican national character
3
a
:
a set of qualities that make a place or thing different from other places or things
[count]
-
the wine's distinctive character
-
the unique character of the town/city/region
[noncount]
-
The building is very simple in character.
◊ If something is in character with something else, it has the same qualities or characteristics as something else.
-
This room is not really in character with the rest of the house.
b
[noncount]
:
the qualities or characteristics that make something interesting or special
-
The room lacks character. [=there's nothing special about the room]
-
Their house has a lot of character.
4
[count]
:
a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show
—
see also cast of characters at 2cast
-
The film's main characters are a woman in her late 30s and her elderly neighbor.
-
She plays the film's lead/main/central character.
-
a fictional character [=a character in a work of fiction]
-
a popular cartoon character
-
the title character of the book Tom Sawyer [=the character named Tom Sawyer]
5
[count]
informal
a
:
a particular type of person
-
He's a strange/interesting character.
b
:
a person who says or does funny or unusual things
-
That husband of yours is a real character!
-
She's quite a character.
6
[noncount]
a
:
the good qualities of a person that usually include moral or emotional strength, honesty, and fairness
-
She's a kind and honest person of good character.
-
They believe that going to church will improve the moral character of their children.
-
He is admired for his strength of character in stressful situations.
-
Playing sports is seen as a way to build character in young people. = Playing sports is seen as character-building for young people.
◊ A test of (your) character is something that is difficult and that requires you to show that you are a good and emotionally strong person.
-
These past few days have been a real test of my character.
b
:
the usually good beliefs or opinions that most people have about a particular person
-
They defended the character [=reputation] of their friend.
-
an attack on his character
7
[count]
:
a symbol (such as a letter or number) that is used in writing or printing
-
the Chinese character for “water”
-
The line is 30 characters long.
in character, out of character
— used to say that some action or behavior is or is not like someone's usual way of behaving
-
It was entirely in character for a generous person like her to give him the money.
-
His rudeness was completely out of character. [=he is not usually rude]
