defining

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of define.

   The committee is defining the project's scope this week.

   Defining the terms clearly at the outset avoids confusion later.

   Note

   The -ing form does two grammatical jobs. After be it builds the progressive (the committee is defining the scope); as a gerund it works as a noun (defining terms early saves confusion). It can carry any live sense of define, from stating a word's meaning to marking out the limits of an area. The same spelling also serves as the adjective meaning "distinguishing", so check whether a noun follows it.

2. 2
   adjective

   Serving to identify the essential character of something or to set it apart from others.

   The defining feature of the species is its bright blue plumage.

   Her courage during the crisis became the defining trait people remembered.

   Similardistinguishing, characteristic, distinctive, essential, key

   Note

   It sits before a noun and keeps close company with characteristic, feature and trait. A defining characteristic is one the thing could not lose and still be itself, as reproduction is for living organisms. Unlike the verb form, it takes degree: more defining, most defining. That lets a writer rank several traits and call one the most defining.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2