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Meaning of feature in English:

feature

Pronunciation /ˈfiːtʃə/

See synonyms for feature

Translate feature into Spanish

noun

  • 1A distinctive attribute or aspect of something.

    ‘a well-appointed house with interesting decorative features’
    • ‘one salient feature of the case has been overlooked’
    • ‘Standard safety features include dual stage driver and passenger air bags and active front head restraints.’
    • ‘They would restore the familiar and now beloved silhouette to the skyline, but would have different detailing and updated safety features.’
    • ‘A host of safety features, including 10 airbags, are also incorporated.’
    • ‘Quality installation is crucial to ensure the gate's safety features work properly and last a long time.’
    • ‘Another major benefit lies in its safety features.’
    • ‘They distributed handbills and explained the salient features to those who showed interest in the policy.’
    • ‘Diversity of values, what philosophers calls the ‘fact of pluralism’, is the salient feature of modern societies in the West.’
    • ‘A small 1970s television sits in one corner - seemingly more of a decorative feature than anything else.’
    • ‘The salient feature of the battery-powered boat was that it had all scrap materials.’
    • ‘The idea is to provide an opportunity to the manufacturers to explain the salient features of their products to the consumers.’
    • ‘Frank Kermode touches lightly on the salient features of each play.’
    • ‘They reflect, and are determined, by significant external features of that environment.’
    • ‘These external features are significant because they constrain managers to act in particular ways.’
    • ‘The most significant feature appears to be the total restructuring of the town centre.’
    • ‘Such a capacity to identify and contrast peoples by distinguishing characteristics is a feature of a sense of national identity.’
    • ‘After all, speech is a dominant feature of our lives, and this very talk would be lost on you if it were to consist entirely of manual gestures.’
    • ‘It is both a distinguishing feature and hallmark of the field.’
    • ‘Barker suggests that metaphor is an essential feature of human communication.’
    • ‘It was the dominating feature of the news bulletins.’
    • ‘Not until 1900, however, did half-tone photographic images become a regular feature of newspapers and magazines.’
    characteristic, attribute, quality, property, trait, mark, hallmark, trademark
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    1. 1.1usually featuresA part of the face, such as the mouth or eyes, making a significant contribution to its overall appearance.
      ‘a dark-haired man with strong, regular features’
      • ‘Those who had any flaws in their facial features, waists, necks, shoulders or backs had to leave.’
      • ‘His mouth and facial features were twisted into a look of horror.’
      • ‘He had medium-length blonde hair, strong features, striking grey eyes.’
      • ‘He had regular features, brown round eyes, brown light hair and a slight growth of beard.’
      • ‘By mapping the face and focusing on features such as the eyes, nose and mouth, the system should be able to identify and help track down the closest match.’
      • ‘External features such as the eyes, nose, mouth and ears can be seen, and fingers and toes start to appear.’
      • ‘They had come from many parts of the world, as was apparent from their skin colour, facial features, their hair and the babble of languages spoken softly.’
      • ‘He has strong facial features, with a slightly pointy chin and strong cheek bones.’
      • ‘She is a doll made of grubby green satin, with satin stumps for hands and feet, features inked onto a round of calico for her face, and her pointed head of grubby green satin also.’
      • ‘The doctor inspects your facial features and neck to assess your skin tone and bone structure.’
      • ‘The similarities between the two men are stark - the same strong jaw, angular features and receding hairline.’
      • ‘He could have passed for an officer of the navy, with his young, strong features, floppy dark hair and twinkling eyes.’
      • ‘His features gave him the appearance of a college freshman, except for the lines that had begun to form at the corners of his eyes and mouth because of his nicotine addiction.’
      • ‘He pushed his sandy hair away from the strong features on his face.’
      • ‘The reader can almost see the characters' distinct features, smell the trailer-park they live in and hear their voices.’
      • ‘As soon as he saw me though, I could see the distinct softening in his features, in particular his eyes.’
      face, countenance, physiognomy, profile
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    2. 1.2Linguistics A distinctive characteristic of a linguistic unit, especially a speech sound or vocabulary item, that serves to distinguish it from others of the same type.
      ‘Over time the status of linguistic features can change strikingly, too.’
      • ‘Linguists and language teachers often take account of the frequency of occurrence of linguistic items and features.’
      • ‘For my part, therefore, I am inclined to see features of both monosemy and polysemy in a word's semantic structure.’
      • ‘If so, this peculiar morphologic feature is another distinguishing characteristic of this genus.’

  • 2A newspaper or magazine article or a broadcast programme devoted to the treatment of a particular topic, typically at length.

    ‘a special feature on children's reference books’
    • ‘Her commercial work includes newspaper and magazine features and book covers.’
    • ‘To mark the launch, the BBC Nairobi team will be broadcasting special features and interviews live from Kisumu during the week.’
    • ‘There are supplements in newspapers and features on television programmes.’
    • ‘At the time there was a craze for bingo games in the tabloid newspapers, so a feature was introduced where the day's bingo numbers were read out.’
    • ‘The same news director ordered a female reporter to do a feature on the ‘amateur strip night’ at a local club.’
    • ‘Work with the news department to promote your columnists or other special features.’
    • ‘Usually I write articles on my own but a colleague and I decided to cooperate on writing a big feature for a newspaper.’
    • ‘The press has devoted innumerable commentaries and special features to the topic - many of which are critical.’
    • ‘They used the opportunity to run new features such as news bulletins which they knew would be obligatory if they won a licence.’
    • ‘The site covers up-to-the minute news, features and analyses on Pakistan, India, South Asia and the rest of the world.’
    • ‘There he meets Catherine, a reporter doing a major magazine feature on him.’
    • ‘Special features show how news programming has been created over the years.’
    • ‘The sheer volume of press pieces and broadcast features about restaurants is witness to that.’
    • ‘However, a couple of recent newspaper features from that country do report on the issue.’
    • ‘A feature service which will engage journalists from all the countries and get them to produce features to feed to newspapers in the region.’
    • ‘These stories are found in numerous newspaper style sections and in soft magazine features.’
    • ‘She has co-written a number of books and also writes regular newspaper features on nutrition and healthy lifestyles.’
    • ‘Broadcasters could do a feature on children's perspective of daily news and create children's news bulletins.’
    • ‘This column is packed full of information and features about all aspects of careers, employment, recruitment and qualifications.’
    • ‘We want to be of service to our community, to become a clearing house for newsy features of all aspects of living in Japan.’
    article, piece, item, report, story, column, review, commentary, criticism, analysis, write-up, exposé
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    1. 2.1A full-length film intended as the main item in a cinema programme.
      ‘The film took nearly five years to move from the first pages of a script to a full-length feature film.’
      • ‘There's no explanation there for what it is, though, and I was hoping it might turn out to be a short film, a feature film, even.’
      • ‘The film at times looks not like a feature film but like a commercial.’
      • ‘This is a little like looking for the suitable scene for a feature film.’
      • ‘The piece was an abject failure if it was intended to be a serious comparison of the feature film and novel.’
      • ‘He has ambitious plans to make a full-length feature film, but again on his terms and in his own time.’
      • ‘The difference between a music video and a feature film is not as vast as one might think.’
      • ‘His dream is to make a full-length feature film for which he has already written the script.’
      • ‘The last time I saw her in London, she was excited about being cast in the main role of a feature film.’
      • ‘He appeared in advertisements for milk and watches, and even had a role in a full-length feature film.’
      • ‘From here Charlton plans to move on to make a full-length feature film on the same issue.’
      • ‘We are currently writing the full feature film and hope to be done soon.’
      • ‘I invested five years of my life and all the money I could find in making a feature film.’
      • ‘Much of the problem comes from trying to distill a novel into a short feature film.’
      • ‘The difference is that the director is only pretending to know how to make a feature film.’
      • ‘It's kind of an unlikely feature film to make but Roger put it together.’
      • ‘I rang many times until one of them gave me a job as a runner on a feature film.’
      • ‘I was looking forward to their first feature film and am relieved to report that for the most part it is a success.’
      • ‘He could have taken any one of these stories and developed them into a feature film on their own.’
      • ‘What was it like to get your first feature film credit in such a high calibre film?’

verb

[with object]

  • 1Have as a prominent attribute or aspect.

    ‘the hotel features a large lounge, a sauna, and a coin-operated solarium’
    • ‘In New York, several new hotels feature works by prominent artists.’
    • ‘All of these editions feature introductions by prominent gay writers who reflect on the impact the books had on them.’
    • ‘Twenty years later, his house at Soham would feature a prominent framed picture of a jet fighter on a wall of the living room.’
    • ‘It features a prominent campaign donation link on its front page.’
    • ‘The general concept that frozen foods do not mean junk foods is to be emphasised on packaging, which will feature prominent nutrition information.’
    • ‘It is assumed that this opportunity to feature the special attributes of a grand country house will be grasped by the operator.’
    • ‘The hotel also features excellent meeting facilities and boardrooms.’
    • ‘It may even feature a sky-high hotel on its top floors.’
    • ‘The complex will also feature luxury hotel and service apartment towers, due for completion in 2005.’
    • ‘A special leisure section, featuring events, hotels and cinemas, is also planned with the tourism market in mind.’
    • ‘Keeping the business executive in mind, the hotel also features an extensive business centre.’
    • ‘The hotel also features a new business centre, as well as seven meeting rooms.’
    • ‘Or, you can go to one of the private hotels which feature their own thermal bathing facilities.’
    • ‘The hotel will also feature a health and leisure club with swimming pool, gym, sauna and jacuzzi.’
    • ‘Almost every week, he is featured prominently and called an idiot or worse.’
    • ‘Official government tourist videos prominently feature Maasai customs and colorful beadwork.’
    • ‘In fact, this barely even felt like a movie about animals - it just happened to feature a horse prominently.’
    • ‘The magazine features articles by historians on both the left and the right.’
    • ‘In addition to our cover story, this edition features two articles about African American art.’
    • ‘The magazine also features articles centering on movie stars and their matches.’
    present, promote, make a feature of, give prominence to, focus attention on, call attention to, spotlight, highlight, accent
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    1. 1.1Have as an important actor or participant.
      ‘the film featured Glenn Miller and his Orchestra’
      • ‘Kung-fu has become popular in many countries, primarily through films which feature martial arts stars.’
      • ‘It's a tough thing to try to do, seeing as any indie film is going to feature cool stars, cool music and a cool aesthetic.’
      • ‘And it'll also save the advertisers money, since they'll be able to feature a film star and cricketer rolled into one.’
      • ‘There were massive fund-raising benefits featuring famous actors.’
      • ‘The film opens with a tender, candlelit love scene that features both actors in all their naked glory.’
      • ‘The evening buffet features the particular dishes from the selected province, plus fare from other areas.’
      • ‘From time to time I'll be drawn to a movie because it features an actor I adore.’
      • ‘The latest demonstration, which took place on Sunday, featured thousands of participants.’
      • ‘Strangely, these two movies feature the same actor, Kate Beckinsale, and they both involve vampires and werewolves.’
      • ‘Both movies feature the actors carrying out all their own stunts.’
      • ‘Opening next month, it's the first of five movies that will feature the actor this year.’
      • ‘When looking at the six films that featured the original crew, it is important to do a couple of things.’
      • ‘There is one deleted scene featuring actor Bill Hickey in an expanded role.’
      • ‘This episode features well-known actors such as Adam Pike, Terry Norton and Russel Savadier.’
      • ‘Its cast features a group of actors you've likely never seen before and will likely never see again.’
      • ‘It features the two actors that played two of the most iconic and legendary screen villains of all time.’
      • ‘One clip even features an actor dressed as a witch doctor dancing around a smoking cauldron.’
      • ‘It is curious, however, that so few of the work's prominent recordings feature French sopranos.’
    2. 1.2feature inno object Be a significant characteristic of or take an important part in.
      ‘his later paintings feature prominently in the exhibition’
      • ‘All these subjects have much in common and might be grouped together as important features in a wildlife garden.’
      • ‘Despite her personal life having often featured in the tabloid newspapers, she felt there was still an important story to tell.’
      • ‘Here is a run-down on their qualities and, more importantly, their chances of featuring in the tournament.’
      • ‘He had given his first important exhibition of his works and had also been featured in Time magazine.’
      • ‘There's more than a bit of outrage at the cathedral as a result of it featuring in an advert with a topless model being ‘crucified’ in front of it.’
      • ‘The police officer is the fourth officer from the police force to resign after featuring in the programme, screened on Tuesday night.’
      • ‘Since opening, the building has become an icon of America, featuring in films.’
      • ‘Atman has already won awards and is also featuring in the forthcoming International Film Festival of Kerala.’
      • ‘But that didn't stop him accepting payment for featuring in women's magazine stories.’
      • ‘The Howard government has been given a huge gift that will almost certainly still be featuring in their election advertising in 2007.’
      star, appear, participate, play a part, have a place, have prominence
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Origin

Late Middle English (originally denoting the form or proportions of the body, or a physical feature): from Old French faiture ‘form’, from Latin factura (see facture).