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| v. i·den·ti·fied, i·den·ti·fy·ing, i·den·ti·fies v. tr. 1. a. To establish or recognize the identity of; ascertain as a certain person or thing: Can you identify what kind of plane that is? I identified the man at the next table as a famous actor. b. Biology To determine the taxonomic classification of (an organism). c. To ascertain as having a certain characteristic or feature: job candidates who are identified as overqualified; children who have been identified with hearing loss. 2. To consider as identical or united; equate: The Greek god Ares is identified with the Roman god Mars. 3. To associate or affiliate closely with: writers who are identified with modernism. v. intr. 1. To consider oneself as sharing certain characteristics or attitudes as another: She identifies strongly with her grandmother. 2. To associate oneself with or admire something, such as a set of ideas: a language learner who identifies with a new culture. 3. To believe or assert that one belongs to a certain group or class: She identifies as a libertarian. He identifies as bisexual. [Medieval Latin identificāre, to make to resemble : Late Latin identitās, identity; see IDENTITY + Latin -ficāre, -fy.] i·den′ti·fia·ble adj. i·den′ti·fia·bly adv. i·denti·fi′er n. |
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