Definition of: character

(kar′ik·tər) noun
1. The combination of qualities distinguishing any person or class of persons; any distinctive mark or trait, or such marks or traits collectively, belonging to any person, class, or race; the individuality which is the product of nature, habits, and environment.
2. High qualities; moral force.
3. Reputation.
4. A representation; assumed part; role.
5. One assuming a certain role.
6. Position; status.
7. The person holding or represented as holding a certain position or rank.
8. A figure engraved, written, or printed; mark; sign; letter.
9. A style of handwriting or printing.
10. A form of secret writing; a cipher.
11. Fidelity and vigor in artistic representation of characteristic features.
12. An individual considered as possessing a combination of distinctive features; a personage; also, popularly, a humorous or eccentric person.
13. A representation or characterization, as of one's qualities or abilities; especially, a written testimonial given by an employer to an employee to aid in obtaining employment.
14. That by which a thing is especially known or distinguished; a quality; property: Ductility is a character of gold.
15. Genetics Any structural or functional trait in an organism regarded as the expression of a gene or genes. [<F caractère <L character <Gk. charaktēr stamp, mark <charassein carve, sharpen, engrave]