Attribute

Pronunciation

• Noun:
• UK IPA: /ˈætrɪbjuːt/
• US enPR: ă'trÄ­-byoÍžot, IPA: /ˈætrɪbjut/
• Verb:
• UK IPA: /æˈtrɪbjuːt/
• US enPR: ă-trÄ­b'yoÍžot, IPA: /æˈtrɪbjut/

Origin

From Latin attributus past participle of attribuere.

Full definition of attribute

Noun

1. A characteristic or quality of a thing.His finest attribute is his kindness.
2. (grammar) A word that qualifies a noun.In the clause "My jacket is more expensive than yours", "My" is the attribute of "jacket".
3. (computing) The applicable option selection; a variable or a value.This packet has its coherency attribute set to zero.
4. (logic) That which is predicated or affirmed of a subject; a predicate; an accident.
5. (computing, programming) A semantic item with which a method, etc. may be decorated.There are some more implementations which use C# attributes to define custom attributes specific to the AOP engine. Then the classes that need to be intercepted will be decorated with these custom attributes.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

1. To ascribe (something) to a given cause, reason etc.
• Archbishop TillotsonWe attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it.
• ShakespeareThe merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer.
• 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 278:Hākim's atypical actions should not be attributed to Islam as much as to insanity, which eventually led him to proclaim himself as Allah, whereupon he was murdered by outraged fellow Muslims.
2. To associate ownership or authorship of (something) to someone.This poem is attributed to Browning.

Derived terms