[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/trait/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / trait

# trait

noun (a trait, traits)

«trait» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A trait is a quality that is part of someone's character, like being brave, shy or kind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#m1)
2. In science, a trait is a feature passed down from parents to children, such as eye colour or the shape of a leaf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#m2)
3. A trait can also be a typical feature of something, like a trait of a style of music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons it comes with inheritance, genes and evolution: «inherited traits», «animals pass traits to their young». In English lessons pupils describe «character traits» of people in stories, backing each trait with evidence from the text. Phrases: «character trait», «personality trait», «family trait».

### Examples

- Kindness is Mia's best trait. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x1)
- Brown eyes are a trait she got from her dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x2)
- Write down three character traits of the wolf in the story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x3)
- Curly hair is a family trait in our house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x4)
- Giraffes passed on the trait of long necks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x5)
- Being stubborn is not always a bad trait. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x6)
- Plants also inherit traits from their parent plants. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x7)
- One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/#x8)

### Note

Countable: «a trait», «traits». In British English it is often said «tray», in American English «trate» (with the t). Inherited traits come from parents; skills you learn, like riding a bike, are not inherited traits.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «trait» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trait/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«trait» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trait.html) on Mova free.