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identify

Pronunciation: /ʌɪˈdɛntɪfʌɪ/

Translate identify | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of identify

verb (identifies, identifying, identified)

[with object]
  • 1establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is:the judge ordered that the girl should not be identified the men identified themselves as federal police
  • recognize or distinguish (especially something considered worthy of attention):a system that ensures that the pupil’s real needs are identified
  • 2 (identify someone/thing with) associate someone or something closely with; regard as having strong links with:he was equivocal about being identified too closely with the peace movement
  • equate (someone or something) with:because of my country accent, people identified me with a homely farmer’s wife
  • [no object] (identify with) regard oneself as sharing the same characteristics or thinking as someone else:I liked Fromm and identified with him

Origin:

mid 17th century (in the sense 'treat as being identical with'): from medieval Latin identificare, from late Latin identitas (see identity) + Latin -ficare (from facere 'make')

identify in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of identify in the US English dictionary