Origin: Latin suffix -ure
Feature has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
"the map showed roads and other features"
"generosity is one of his best characteristics"
the principal (full-length) film in a program at a movie theater
"the feature tonight is `Casablanca'"
a special or prominent article in a newspaper or magazine
"they ran a feature on retirement planning"
(linguistics) a distinctive characteristic of a linguistic unit that serves to distinguish it from other units of the same kind
"In the study of phonology, the presence of aspiration is considered a defining feature that distinguishes voiceless stops like /p/ from their unaspirated counterparts."
an article of merchandise that is displayed or advertised more than other articles
"The store manager decided to feature their new winter coats in the window display to attract more customers."
One's structure or make-up: form, shape, bodily proportions.
"The surgeon explained that his facial feature was slightly asymmetrical due to an old childhood injury."
In plain English: A feature is a special part or quality of something that makes it interesting or useful.
"The new smartphone has a high-quality camera as its main feature."
Usage: Use "feature" to describe a distinct part of a person's face, such as eyes or a smile, rather than using it for general physical attributes like height or weight. It specifically refers to those qualities that give an individual their unique appearance.
To ascribe the greatest importance to something within a certain context.
"The new marketing campaign features sustainability by making it the central theme of all their advertisements."
In plain English: To feature something means to give it a prominent place or highlight it as an important part of a group or event.
"The new smartphone features a high-quality camera."
Usage: Use the verb feature to mean highlighting or giving prominence to something specific, such as when a headline focuses on a particular story. Avoid using it to simply describe an object's characteristics, which requires the noun form instead.
The word feature comes from the Latin verb meaning "to do" or "to make," which originally referred to something that has been done or constructed. It entered English through Old French and Anglo-Norman, eventually evolving to describe a distinctive characteristic or part of something.