define vs characterize

define and characterize both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
define	No	No	Yes	No
characterize	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, characterize is a hypernym of define; that is, characterize is a word with a broader meaning than define:

Other hypernyms of define include characterise.

define (verb)	characterize (verb)
give a definition for the meaning of a word	describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
decide upon or fix definitely	be characteristic of
determine the essential quality of
determine the nature of
show the form or outline of