feature
/ˈfiːtʃə
/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.
Synonyms
characteristic, attribute, quality, property, trait, mark, hallmark, trademark;
aspect, facet, side, point, detail, factor, ingredient, component, constituent, element, theme;
peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, quirk, oddity
1.1 (usually features) A 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.
Synonyms
face, countenance, physiognomy, profile
informal mug, kisser, clock
British informal mush, phiz, phizog, dial
British rhyming slang boat race
Scottish & Irish informal coupon
Northern Irish informal bake
North American informal puss, pan
literary visage, lineaments
archaic front
1.2 Linguistics 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.
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.
Synonyms
article, piece, item, report, story, column, review, commentary, criticism, analysis, write-up, exposé;
North American theme
2.1 (also feature film) A 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.
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.
Synonyms
present, promote, make a feature of, give prominence to, focus attention on, call attention to, spotlight, highlight, accent
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.
1.2 [no object] (feature in) 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.
Synonyms
star, appear, participate, play a part, have a place, have prominence
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).
factory from late 16th century:
The first factories were far from any urban area, in India and southeast Asia. A factory in the late 16th century was a trading company's foreign base or station. The first use of the word in something like the modern sense came in the early 17th century, but until the Victorian era a building where goods were produced was more usually called a manufactory. The root of factory is Latin facere ‘to make or do’, the source of a great many English words such as fact, factor, feat, and feature (all LME). The sense ‘a place where things are made’ probably came from Latin factorium ‘oil press’.