1
as in traces
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
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2
as in describes
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
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3
as in characterizes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
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4
as in specifies
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
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Recent Examples of defines
Picking the right books for the days ahead can be tricky, because the atmosphere that defines the last dregs of the year can be fraught and contradictory.
—
Amanda Parrish Morgan, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024
The PowerPoint presentation stated the curriculum defines terms such as gender identity, gender expression, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive.
—Patrick Hauf, Baltimore Sun, 21 Dec. 2024
The quality of our work, culture and impact defines true success.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Year after year, her music defines the holiday season, her voice becoming as much a part of Christmas as twinkling lights and hot cocoa.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
Volk defines artists for communism as the jinmin hanga (people’s print) movement.
—Nathan Pugh, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
However, the state defines a child as under 14 years old.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
Additionally, Apollo incorporates an Advanced Force Control Architecture and defines safety zones for enhanced operational safety.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Dec. 2024
This is quite a departure from the more darker vibe that defines the last generation of Vegas hotel designs.
—Rob Reed, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Amanda Parrish Morgan, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024
The PowerPoint presentation stated the curriculum defines terms such as gender identity, gender expression, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive.
—Patrick Hauf, Baltimore Sun, 21 Dec. 2024
The quality of our work, culture and impact defines true success.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Year after year, her music defines the holiday season, her voice becoming as much a part of Christmas as twinkling lights and hot cocoa.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
Volk defines artists for communism as the jinmin hanga (people’s print) movement.
—Nathan Pugh, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
However, the state defines a child as under 14 years old.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
Additionally, Apollo incorporates an Advanced Force Control Architecture and defines safety zones for enhanced operational safety.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Dec. 2024
This is quite a departure from the more darker vibe that defines the last generation of Vegas hotel designs.
—Rob Reed, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defines
Verb
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Beyond jolly attitudes among fund managers and other market participants, the phenomenon traces back to low trading volume and a lack of potentially harmful economic and earnings reports, though jolly attitudes among investors.Derek Saul, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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This supports the likelihood that the image is a fabrication that traces to a single source.Andre Byik, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Friedman describes his first in-person meeting with co-leader Meqbil in Nicosia, Cyprus as transformative and reflected on a pivotal moment for the organization when hosting their cohort in Nicosia.Hessie Jones, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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Lahar describes a remarkable resilience in how people adapt to crisis conditions.Hessie Jones, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The result is a balance between functionality and style, which also characterizes his work as a fashion designer.Iñaki Laguardia, Architectural Digest, 24 Dec. 2024
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The guide characterizes Cariño as a Mexican and contemporary restaurant, where Chef Norman Fenton’s team offers a tasting menu of tacos with a modernist approach.Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Constitution specifies the power of the purse is vested in Congress.Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Moore and Harris signed a Memorandum of Understanding that specifies the franchise’s community and re-developmental responsibilities if the Commanders move to another property outside the state.Ben Standig, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Provide Opportunities For Growth Creating a structured career development plan that outlines clear pathways for advancement can help manage expectations.Nilesh Parmar, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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This initiative outlines China's approach to AI governance from the perspectives of development, security, and regulation, contributing to the construction of a global framework for responsible AI development.Mark Greeven, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Little portrays Deputy Brent, Dana’s closest confidant on the force.Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
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King So portrays May Tao, a local journalist with a healthy distrust of the Wausau Police who harbors big secrets of her own.Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Frequent punting not only limits a team’s scoring opportunities but also places additional pressure on their defense.Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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This limits the duration and number of injections by nearly 80 percent—and helps mitigate their side effects.Alexandra York, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The 1974 budget act that currently governs the process has never worked, and Congress has never actually passed an entire budget on time according to its rules.The Editors, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
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The law governs the process between Election Day and Inauguration Day.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Defines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defines. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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