feature

The word “feature” means a distinctive or noticeable part or quality of something. In plain terms, a notable part of something, or (as a verb) to prominently include something.

“Feature” is pronounced FEE-chuh (/ˈfi.t͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “feature” used in a sentence: “The kitchen's biggest feature is the large island counter.”

Depending on how it is used, “feature” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “feature” comes from Latin. From Old French faiture, ultimately from Latin facere ("to make, do") — a doublet of "facture".

“Feature” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Feature” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a distinctive or noticeable part or quality of something.

The words overlap, but a feature tends to be a distinct, noticeable part you can point to — a feature of a phone or a face. A characteristic is more often a defining quality or trait, especially of behaviour or nature. Features stand out visibly; characteristics describe what something is essentially like.

A touchscreen is a feature of a smartphone, a fireplace is a feature of a room, and high cheekbones are a feature of a face. In each case, a feature is a distinctive or noticeable part or quality that stands out. Products, places, and people can all be described by their features.

Facial features are the individual parts of the face — eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, chin, and brow — especially as they combine to give someone a distinctive appearance. When people describe strong or soft features, they mean the shape and prominence of these parts. Features in this sense are what make each face recognisable.

A feature is a distinctive part or quality something has; a function is what it does or the job it performs. A camera is a feature of a phone, while taking photos is its function. Features describe attributes; functions describe purpose or action. The two are often listed together when describing products.