The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Characterize \Char"ac*ter*ize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Characterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] [LL.
   characterizare, Gr. ?: cf. F. charact['e]riser.]
   1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or
      traits; to make with distinctive features.
      [1913 Webster]

            European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian
            faces are Characterized.              --Arbuthnot.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] --Sir M. Hale.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To indicate the character of; to describe.
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            Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to
            characterize King William.            --Johnson.
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   4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the
      character of.
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            The softness and effeminacy which characterize the
            men of rank in most countries.        --W. Irving.

   5. (Chem.) to identify the structure or nature of; as, the
      antibiotic activity in the sample was characterized by
      HPLC, and proved to be erythromycin.
      [PJC]

   Syn: To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style;
        particularize; entitle.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

characterize
    v 1: describe or portray the character or the qualities or
         peculiarities of; "You can characterize his behavior as
         that of an egotist"; "This poem can be characterized as a
         lament for a dead lover" [syn: qualify, characterize,
         characterise]
    2: be characteristic of; "What characterizes a Venetian
       painting?" [syn: characterize, characterise]