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trait

Pronunciation: /treɪt, treɪ/

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Definition of trait

noun

a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person:the traditionally British trait of self-denigration
a genetically determined characteristic: breeders were installing some trait that allowed the crop to thrive

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French, from Latin tractus 'drawing, draught' (see tract¹). An early sense was 'stroke of the pen or pencil in a picture', giving rise to the sense 'a particular feature of mind or character' (mid 18th century)