ˈkærəktə(r)
ˈkærəktərqualities/features
1 [countable, usually singular] all the qualities and features that make a person, groups of people, and places different from othersto have a strong/weak charactercharacter traits/defectsThe book gives a fascinating insight into Mrs Obama's character.Generosity is part of the American character.The character of the neighbourhood hasn't changed at all.2 [countable, usually singular, uncountable] the way that something is, or a particular quality or feature that a thing, an event or a place hasSynonym
naturethe delicate character of the light in the eveningThe police pointed out the illegal character of the protest action.buildings that are very simple in character3 [uncountable] (approving) strong personal qualities such as the ability to deal with difficult or dangerous situationsEveryone admires her strength of character and determination.He showed great character returning to the sport after his accident.Adventure camps are considered to be character-building (= meant to improve somebody's strong qualities).4 [uncountable] (usually approving) the interesting or unusual quality that a place or a person hasThe modern hotels here have no real character.a face with a lot of characterstrange/interesting person
5 [countable] (informal) (used with an adjective) a person, particularly an unpleasant or strange oneThere were some really strange characters hanging around the bar.6 [countable] (informal) an interesting or unusual personShe's a character!reputation
7 [countable, uncountable] (formal) the opinion that people have of you, particularly of whether you can be trusted or relied onShe was a victim of character assassination (= an unfair attack on the good opinion people had of her).a slur/attack on his characterMy teacher agreed to be a character witness for me in court.a character reference (= a letter that a person who knows you well writes to an employer to tell them about your good qualities)in book/play/movie
8 [countable] a person or an animal in a book, play or film/moviea major/minor character in the bookcartoon charactersClint Eastwood's character is the most sympathetic in the movie.symbol/letter
9 [countable] a letter, sign, mark or symbol used in writing, printing or on computersChinese charactersa line 30 characters longoptical character recognitionIdioms
in character
|out of character
typical/not typical of a person's character
Her behaviour last night was completely out of character.in character (with something)
in the same style as something
The new wing of the museum was not really in character with the rest of the building.
Usage note: LiteratureBeing a writerwrite/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiographybecome a writer/novelist/playwrightfind/have a publisher/an agenthave a new book outedit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscriptdedicate a book/poem to…Plot, character and atmosphereconstruct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrativeadvance/drive the plotintroduce/present the protagonist/a characterdescribe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villaincreate an exciting/a tense atmospherebuild/heighten the suspense/tensionevoke/capture the pathos of the situationconvey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…engage the readerseize/capture/grip the (reader's) imaginationarouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythmLanguage, style and imageryuse/employ language/imagery/humour/(especially US) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a deviceuse/adopt/develop a style/techniquebe rich in/be full of symbolismevoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…create/achieve an effectmaintain/lighten the toneintroduce/develop an idea/a themeinspire a novel/a poet/somebody's work/somebody's imaginationReading and criticismread an author/somebody's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passagereview a book/a novel/somebody's workgive something/get/have/receive a good/bad reviewbe hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiecequote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/authorprovoke/spark discussion/criticismstudy/interpret/understand a text/passagetranslate somebody's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem