defining

Academic Word List, sublist 1.

About 13.36 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb present participle and gerund of define
2. adjective Serving to define or distinguish.

   The ability to reproduce is a defining characteristic of living organisms.

Similar words

shaping definitional specifying specify identification identify identifying formulate formulation clarifying

Often followed by

the a and characteristics what characteristic it an their feature

Word family

definable define defined defines definition definitions