1. that describes or shows the essential meaning of something
   • ● The EU referendum was a defining moment for our nation.
   • ● Front porches are a defining characteristic of Garfield's architecture.
   • ● He believed that liberty was a defining characteristic of a civilized society.
   • ● Advertising is one of the defining features of our age.
2. (also restrictive)
   (grammar) (of relative clauses) explaining which particular person or thing you are talking about rather than giving extra information about them. In ‘The books which are on the table are mine’, ‘which are on the table’ is a defining relative clause.Topics

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲