trait

[ treyt; British also trey ]

noun

1. a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature:

   bad traits of character.

   Synonyms: property, attribute, mark, peculiarity

2. a pen or pencil stroke.
3. a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality:

   a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.

trait

/ treɪ; treɪt /

noun

1. a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing
2. rare.
   a touch or stroke

trait

/ trāt /

1. A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French: literally, “something drawn,” from Latin tractus; tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin tractus , from trahere to drag

Example Sentences

Yet he also supported eugenics, or the pseudoscience of controlling human reproduction to ensure that genetic traits deemed desirable are passed on.

From Salon

The brash, confident, boisterous traits his "notorious" brand is now synonymous with were untraceable.

From BBC

Specific stress and mental health traits were also associated with high levels of certain microbe species.

From Science Daily

The results show that dietary diversity and adaptability were crucial survival traits during the environmental changes of the Late Triassic.

From Science Daily

The study implies that, in the long run, personalized brain stimulation protocols will be developed to maximize benefits based on an individual's specific needs, rather than a common trait such as age.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• attribute
• character
• feature
• habit
• idiosyncrasy
• manner
• oddity
• peculiarity
• quality
• quirk
• trick
• virtue