vt.

1. 描繪……的特性[（+as）]
   The author characterizes the central figure as a weakling.

   作者把書中的中心人物描繪成一個懦弱的人。

2. 具有……的特徵，以……為特徵
   A miser is characterized by greed.

   守財奴的特點是貪婪。

v.

1. describe the distinctive character of.
2. (of a feature or quality) be typical or characteristic of.