defining
defining — adjective
1. showing the most important quality of someone or something, so that without it t
showing the most important quality of someone or something, so that without it the person or thing would not be the same
Winning the gold medal was the defining moment of Vinícius's career.
defining + moment (the most common collocation)
Honesty is the defining quality that customers value most in our small shop.
defining + quality + of + someone/something
The red walls and tall windows are a defining feature of the old hospital building.
Asher's kindness toward the new students became the defining trait of the whole class.
The defining issue of the election was how to lower the cost of housing.
- key
much more common in everyday English; 'key' is neutral while 'defining' suggests the quality shapes the whole identity
- essential
means 'absolutely necessary'; close to 'defining' but stresses need rather than character
- characteristic
typical of someone/something but not necessarily the single most important trait
- minor
the opposite of 'defining' in importance — a small or unimportant detail
文法句型
defining + noun (moment, feature, characteristic, quality)
the defining + noun + of + something
用法筆記
Used before a noun and not after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'. Distinguish from sense 2 (the grammar term), which only appears in 'defining clause' or 'defining relative clause'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a clause or pronoun that gives information needed to know exactly whi
describing a clause or pronoun that gives information needed to know exactly which person or thing is being talked about
Lauren explained that 'who lives next door' is a defining relative clause in this sentence.
defining + relative clause (grammar context)
In English grammar, a defining clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
a defining clause + grammar rule
Our teacher asked us to underline the defining clause in each sentence on the worksheet.
Hugo wrote on the board that 'that' is often used in defining clauses instead of 'which'.
- restrictive
the American grammar term for the same idea; British grammar books prefer 'defining'
- non-defining
the direct opposite; gives extra information that can be removed without changing the basic meaning
文法句型
defining + relative clause
defining + clause / pronoun
用法筆記
Only used in the grammar phrase 'defining clause' (or 'defining relative clause'). The opposite is a 'non-defining clause', which gives extra information that could be removed. Different from sense 1, which can describe many kinds of nouns.
常見錯誤
defining — verb
1. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to say or write what a word or idea means, oft
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to say or write what a word or idea means, often clearly and in your own words
Lien spent the whole evening defining each scientific term for the group project.
defining + noun (term/word)
The dictionary editors are still defining the new slang words that teenagers use online.
be + defining + new words (present continuous)
Defining 'freedom' is harder than most students think on their first essay.
By defining every legal word, the lawyer made the contract easy for Mei to read.
Nikhil kept defining each medical term as a kindness to his elderly patients.
- explaining
more general; you can explain a word, an idea, or a situation, while 'defining' usually targets a word or term
- describing
broader; 'describing' tells what something is like, while 'defining' tells exactly what it means
文法句型
be defining + noun (a word, a term)
defining + noun + as + something
用法筆記
This is the -ing form of the verb 'define' — used as a present participle (after 'be') or as a gerund (a noun-like form). Subject is usually a person or a reference book; object is usually a word, term, or abstract idea.
常見錯誤
2. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to give something its main quality or to make
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to give something its main quality or to make clear what kind of person or thing it is
Élise believes that her love of music is the part of her defining who she is today.
defining + who/what + clause (identity)
Climate change is defining this generation in the same way that war defined earlier ones.
be + defining + noun (era/generation)
Bilal said that hard training was defining him both as an athlete and as a person.
Small daily choices are defining the kind of friends Obi will become close to.
What is really defining this team is the way they support each other after a loss.
- shaping
very close in meaning; 'shaping' stresses gradual change, while 'defining' stresses the main feature that results
- characterising
more formal; British spelling — emphasizes a typical quality rather than identity formation
文法句型
be defining + noun (a generation, an era)
what + be + defining + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually an experience, value, or event; object is often a person, group, or period. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about explaining word meanings.
常見錯誤
3. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set or show the outer edge or shape of some
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set or show the outer edge or shape of something, so that you can see where it begins and ends
Alessia is defining the garden path with small white stones from the river.
defining + noun (edge/path) — physical outline
The new fence is defining the border between the two family farms quite clearly.
be + defining + noun (border/boundary)
Maeve helped her father by defining the corners of the basketball court with bright yellow tape.
Tall trees are defining the back edge of the school playground from the busy main road.
- blurring
the opposite — making the edge unclear or hard to see
文法句型
defining + noun (boundary, edge, outline)
be + clearly defining + something
用法筆記
Subject is usually a physical object (line, fence, row of trees); object is the area, edge, or boundary being marked. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about giving identity rather than physical limits.
常見錯誤
4. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set up a new rule, role, or system by decid
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set up a new rule, role, or system by deciding exactly what it should be
The committee is defining the rules for the school's first robotics contest this spring.
be + defining + noun (rules/process)
Before the project starts, our manager is defining each person's role on the team.
defining + noun (role/responsibility)
Defining clear safety steps is the first job for any new factory worker in this country.
The town council is defining how parents can sign up their children for free swimming classes.
- setting up
more everyday; 'setting up' is broader, while 'defining' stresses making the details exact
- establishing
more formal; often used in business or legal writing for the same idea
文法句型
defining + noun (a rule, a process, a role)
be defining + noun + for + group
用法筆記
Subject is usually a group, organization, or leader; object is a rule, role, process, or system that did not exist before. Distinguish from sense 1 (explaining word meanings) — here you are building the thing itself.