ENGLISH
REFERENCE

attribute

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈætɹəbˌjut// at·tribute Academic Archaic

n. a quality or feature that someone or something has. It is often used to describe a specific part of a person's character or a detail in a computer file.

n. a quality or characteristic inherent in or ascribed to someone or something. In technical contexts, it refers to a piece of information that determines the properties of a field or object.


SIMPLE

Patience is an essential attribute for a good teacher.

CONTEXTUAL

The software allows users to change the file attribute to read-only to prevent accidental changes to the data.

COMPLEX

While the candidate possessed the necessary technical skills, the committee felt he lacked the leadership attributes required to manage such a diverse and high-pressure department.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin attributus.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' when identifying the source of the quality.

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