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1. Determine the essential quality of
   - specify, delineate, delimit, delimitate
    
2. Give a definition for the meaning of a word
   "Define 'sadness'"
    
3. Determine the nature of
   "What defines a good wine?"
    
4. Show the form or outline of
   "The camera could define the smallest object"; "The tree was clearly defined by the light";
   - delineate
    
5. Decide upon definitely; give a value
   "define the parameters";
   - specify, set, determine, fix, limit

Derived forms: defines, defining, defined

Type of: be, characterise [Brit], characterize, choose, pick out, select, show, take

Encyclopedia: Define