defining

2 definitions • 6 examples

very important in understanding or describing something:

Examples:

defining event The attacks were the defining event of his presidency.

defining feature Electronic dance music is characterized by several defining features.

There are many differences between the candidates, but none is more defining than this issue.

(of a clause) giving information about someone or something that is necessary in order to understand who or what is being referred to, or (of a pronoun) used in a clause like this:

Examples:

No commas are used before defining clauses.

In "They interviewed the woman whose dog had been rescued", "whose dog had been rescued" is a defining relative clause because it makes clear which woman is being talked about.

We can use "who" or "that" as a defining relative pronoun to talk about people.

defining

Examples:

Examples:

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