caracteriza

Caracteriza is the third‑person singular present indicative form of the verb caracterizar in Spanish and Portuguese. It means to characterize: to describe the distinguishing features or main attributes of someone or something, or to identify a set of traits that define a person, object, or phenomenon.

Etymology and usage notes: The verb derives from Latin characterizare, ultimately from Greek charaktēr, reflecting the notion of marking or distinguishing. In both languages it functions as a regular -ar verb in the present tense, with forms such as caracterizas (tú), caracteriza (él/ella/usted), and caracterizamos (nosotros/as) in Spanish, or caracterizas (tu/foste), caracteriza (ele/ela/você) in Portuguese.

Usage and nuances: Caractérizar is common in scientific, descriptive, and analytical writing, as well as journalism and marketing. It can mean describing or listing the traits of a group, object, or phenomenon, or labeling a subject with specific attributes. The sense ranges from neutral description to evaluative judgment, depending on context, tone, and the accompanying language.

Examples: In Spanish: "El estudio caracteriza a los pacientes de alto riesgo como susceptibles a complicaciones." In Portuguese: "O estudo caracteriza os pacientes de alto risco como suscetíveis a complicações."

Related terms: In Spanish, describir, definir; in Portuguese, descrever, definir. The noun form, caracterización, refers to the act or result of characterizing.