perˈsonalize or perˈsonalise transitive verb

1. To apply to, or take as referring to, a definite person
2. To tailor to or cater for the desires of a particular person
3. To mark with a person's name, initials, monogram, etc
4. To give a mark or character to (something) so that it is identifiable as belonging to a certain person
5. To personify

perˈsonally adverb

1. In a personal or direct manner
2. In person
3. Individually
4. For my part (informal)

perˈsonalty noun (law)

Personal estate, all the property which, when a person dies, goes to the executor or administrator, as distinguished from the realty, which goes to the heir-at-law

personal ad noun

A message or advertisement in a personal column

personal allowance noun

An amount, determined by the government, which is deducted from income before arriving at the taxable amount

personal assistant noun

Someone who helps a particular individual such as an executive, esp performing secretarial or administrative work (abbrev PA)

personal chair noun

A university chair created for the period of tenure of a particular person

personal column noun

A newpaper column containing personal messages, advertisements, etc

personal communications network see PCN

personal computer noun

A single-user microcomputer (abbrev PC)

personal digital assistant noun

A hand-held computer containing a personal information manager (abbrev PDA)

personal dosimeter noun

A sensitive tubular electroscope, charged by a generator and discharged by ionizing radiation, used by workers in areas of potential radiation hazard

personal effects plural noun

1. Those belongings worn or carried about one's person
2. Private or intimate possessions

personal equation see under equal

personal equity plan noun

(from 1987 to 1999) a financial investment scheme, offering certain tax benefits, that encouraged individuals to invest in British companies (abbrev PEP)

personal estate or personal property noun

Property other than land or buildings, passing at death to one's executor, not to one's heir-at-law, opp to real estate or property

personal exception noun (Scots law; obsolete)

A ground of objection which applies to an individual and prevents him from doing something which, but for his conduct or situation, he might do

personal foul noun (basketball)

A foul awarded against a player for illegal physical contact

personal identification number see PIN

personal identity noun

The continued sameness of the individual person, through all changes, as testified by consciousness

personal information manager noun

A computer program used to organize and hold details of appointments, addresses, etc

personal organizer see under organize

personal pronoun noun (grammar)

A pronoun which stands for a definite person or thing

personal property see personal estate above.

personal remark noun

A remark, esp derogatory, made to, referring to, or aimed at a particular person or persons

personal rights plural noun

Rights which belong to a person as a living, rational being

personal security noun

A pledge given by a person, as distinguished from the delivery of some object of value as security

personal service noun

1. Delivery of a message or an order into a person's hands, as distinguished from delivery in any other indirect way
2. Attention or service of the proprietor of a concern, rather than one of his employees or assistants

personal shopper noun

A person employed by a retail outlet to advise individual customers on their specific requirements and to give them practical help in selection and purchasing

personal space noun

1. The immediate environment for personal activity which an individual seeks to control, and in which intrusion is unwelcome
2. An individual's free time for leisure activities

personal stereo noun

A small lightweight cassette or CD player designed to be carried around (eg in one's pocket or attached to one's belt) and listened to through earphones

personal trainer noun

A person employed to direct a fitness exercise programme for an individual

personal transaction noun

Something done by a person's own effort, not through the agency of another

personal video recorder noun

A device used to make digital recordings of television broadcasts on a hard disk (abbrev PVR)

personal watercraft same as jet ski (see under jet²).