anthropomorphize

v., -phized, -phiz·ing, -phiz·es.

v.tr.
To ascribe human characteristics to.

v.intr.
To ascribe human characteristics to things not human.

anthropomorphization an'thro·po·mor'phi·za'tion (-fĭ-zā'shən) n.

(an-thruh-puh-MOR-fyz)
verb tr., intr.
To attribute human qualities to things not human.

Etymology
From Greek anthropo- (human) + morph (form)

Usage
"Yes, we love our pets and anthropomorphize them to the point where we think our cat might enjoy wearing the mouse hat Halloween costume." — Natalie Angier; The Ambivalent Bond With a Ball of Fur; The New York Times; Oct 2, 2007.

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: ascribe human features to something
  Synonym: anthropomorphise

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Common misspelling(s) of anthropomorphization

• anthromorphization

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - antropomorfisere, tillægge menneskelige træk, menneskeliggøre
v. intr. - menneskeliggøre

Nederlands (Dutch)
toeschrijven van menselijke vorm aan god/ dier etc, antropomorfiseren

Français (French)
v. tr. - faire de l'anthropomorphie
v. intr. - faire de l'anthropomorphie

Deutsch (German)
v. - vermenschlichen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - παριστάνω με ανθρώπινη μορφή, αποδίδω ανθρώπινα χαρακτηριστικά

Italiano (Italian)
antropomorfizzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - antropomorfizar, atribuir forma humana a

Русский (Russian)
наделять человеческими качествами

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - antropomorfizar
v. intr. - antropomorfizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - ge mänsklig gestalt åt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
人格化, 赋与人性, 把...比拟作人, 使人格化

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 人格化, 賦與人性
v. intr. - 把...比擬作人, 使人格化

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - ~를 의인화하다
v. intr. - 의인화되다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 人格化する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يجسم : ينسم الصفات البشريه الى‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮ייחס תכונות אנושיות לחיות וכו', אינש‬
v. intr. - ‮ייחס תכונות אנושיות לחיות וכו', אינש‬

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