1. Quizzes & Games
  2. Word of the Day
  3. Video
  4. New Words
 

trait
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.

4 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. trait
  2. trait-complex
  3. culture trait
  4. sickle-cell trait

trait

noun \ˈtrāt, British usually ˈtrā\

Definition of TRAIT

1
a : a stroke of or as if of a pencil
b : touch, trace
2
a : a distinguishing quality (as of personal character) <curiosity is one of her notable traits>
b : an inherited characteristic
See trait defined for English-language learners »
See trait defined for kids »

Examples of TRAIT

  1. This dog breed has a number of desirable traits.
  2. <honesty is one of her defining traits>

Origin of TRAIT

Middle French, literally, act of drawing, from Latin tractus — more at tract
First Known Use: 1589

Related to TRAIT

Synonyms
affection, attribute, attribution, character, criterion, diagnostic, differentia, feature, fingerprint, hallmark, mark, marker, note, particularity, peculiarity, point, property, quality, specific, stamp, touch, characteristic

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with TRAIT

ait, bait, bate, blate, cate, crate, date, eight, fate, fete, freight, gait, gate, grate, great, haet, hate, late, mate, pate, plait, plate, prate, quoit, rate, sate, skate, slate, spate, state, straight, strait, teth, wait, weight

trait

noun \ˈtrāt, British usually ˈtrā\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of TRAIT

: an inherited characteristic

Learn More About TRAIT

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: trait–complex
Previous Word in the Dictionary: traipse
All Words Near: trait

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up trait? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Name That Thing

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Get Our Free Apps
Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More
iPhone | iPad | Android | More
Join Us on FB & Twitter
Get the Word of the Day and More
Facebook | Twitter