trait
a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature: bad traits of character.
a pen or pencil stroke.
a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality: a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.
Origin of trait
1Other words for trait
Words Nearby trait
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use trait in a sentence
Gender is the word that’s often used to describe the traits, characteristics, experiences, and social expectations that are associated with identity.
Like humans, dogs’ personality traits stayed fairly stable over time.
Cognitive Scientists Are Going to the Dogs - Issue 95: Escape | Gareth Wilmer | February 3, 2021 | NautilusIt’s a trait that’s terrible for us, but great for an artificial nose.
Scientists Made a Biohybrid Nose Using Cells From Mosquitoes | Shelly Fan | January 26, 2021 | Singularity HubSuch studies try to determine whether particular traits, diseases or conditions are due to genes or instead reflect environmental influences.
Some identical twins don’t have the exact same DNA | Tina Hesman Saey | January 22, 2021 | Science News For StudentsThis trait, dubbed “virulence,” needs to stay semi-consistent so that the virus can maintain itself inside a host.
A Language AI Is Accurately Predicting Covid-19 ‘Escape’ Mutations | Shelly Fan | January 19, 2021 | Singularity Hub
This uniqueness is a trait that she attributes to her early success as a dominatrix.
In a close-to-human face, every inhuman trait becomes magnified.
Kevin Spacey Stars as a Frank Underwood-like Warmonger in ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’ | Alec Kubas-Meyer | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSelf-realized masters can get stern and even appear angry if a disciple openly manifests some undesirable character trait.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More | Gary Wright | September 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBy using some sort of filter—like, perhaps, a universally understood saying—the trait is more easily conveyed.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality | Noah Caldwell | September 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Royalist has always maintained that Harry's red hair is a Spencer, not a Hewitt trait.
Prince Harry Definitely Not James Hewitt's Son According To DNA Test | Tom Sykes | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNo trait is better marked in the normal child than the impulse to subject others to his own disciplinary system.
Children's Ways | James SullyIt is a fine trait in Scotchmen that, deeply respecting themselves, they respect others.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowDoes a friend come and add to the gross character of such a man the unknown trait of disgusting gluttony?
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. HarperThe sterling trait in his character is, that he grasps after originality, and grapples with every difficulty.
This trait in the man of the Midi is one that Daudet has brought out humorously in the Tartarin books.
Frdric Mistral | Charles Alfred Downer
British Dictionary definitions for trait
/ (treɪt, treɪ) /
a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing
rare a touch or stroke
Origin of trait
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for trait
[ trāt ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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