attribute

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to attribute or credit to

   We attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.

2. 2
   noun

   A characteristic or quality of a thing.

   His finest attribute is his kindness.

3. 3
   noun

   An object that is considered typical of someone or some function, in particular as an artistic convention.

   The eagle and the bolt of lightning are attributes of Jove.

4. 4
   noun

   An option or setting belonging to some object.

   This packet has its coherency attribute set to zero.

5. 5
   noun

   A semantic item with which a method or other code element may be decorated.

   Properties can be marked as obsolete with an attribute, which will cause the compiler to generate a warning if they are used.

6. 6
   noun

   A numeric value representing the colours of part of the screen display.

   […] you can only carry two objects, your attributes clash when you walk past multi-coloured objects and your enemies fly up and down from the ceiling.

7. 7
   verb

   To ascribe (something) to a given cause, reason etc.; to affix.

   For as this is the liquor of modern historians, nay, perhaps their muse, if we may believe the opinion of Butler, who attributes inspiration to ale, it ought likewise to be the potation of their readers, since every book ought to be read with the same spirit and in the same manner as it is writ.

8. 8
   verb

   To associate ownership or authorship of (something) to someone.

   This poem is attributed to Browning.

Etymology

From Latin attributus.