Caracterizan

Caracterizan is a Spanish verb form meaning “they characterize” or “they are characteristic of.” It is the third-person plural present indicative of the verb caracterizar, which refers to describing, defining, or indicating the typical features of something. This form is commonly used to attribute distinguishing traits to a subject or to indicate what a group or phenomenon tends to be like.

In usage, caracterizan can appear with or without reflexive meaning. With se, it is common to express general characteristics: “Las especies se caracterizan por su resistencia a la sequía.” In transitive constructions, it can describe how something is distinguished: “El informe caracteriza a la población por su edad y nivel educativo.” The phrase “caracterizan por” is a frequent collocation when listing defining traits.

Etymology and related forms: The verb caracterizar derives from carácter (character) with the suffix -izar, forming a verb that means to characterize or to describe the defining features of something. Related terms include caracterización (characterization) and característico (characteristic).

See also: caracterización, característico, caracterización en ciencias, análisis de rasgos.

This concise entry provides the core linguistic meaning, typical usage, and related linguistic forms of caracterizan, a form that helps articulate the distinguishing features of people, objects, or phenomena in Spanish.