classify
verb OPAL W
/ˈklæsɪfaɪ/
/ˈklæsɪfaɪ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they classify | /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ |
| he / she / it classifies | /ˈklæsɪfaɪz/ /ˈklæsɪfaɪz/ |
| past simple classified | /ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ /ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ |
| past participle classified | /ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ /ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ |
| -ing form classifying | /ˈklæsɪfaɪɪŋ/ /ˈklæsɪfaɪɪŋ/ |
- classify something (+ adv./prep.) to arrange something in groups according to features that they have in common
- The books in the library are classified according to subject.
- Patients are classified into three categories.
- All rural settlements were classified according to their size.
- people classified by ethnic group
- These can be classified under five headings.
Extra ExamplesTopics Scientific researchb2- Antiques can be classified according to a number of criteria.
- The books are all classified by subject.
- We can classify machines in terms of their function.
- Soils can be classified under two main headings.
- The study recorded and classified accidents over a period of a year.
- classify somebody/something as something to decide which type or group somebody/something belongs to
- Only eleven of these accidents were classified as major.
- Would you classify it as a hard drug or a soft drug?
- [usually passive] classify something to state that information is officially secret
- The government insists on keeping certain documents classified.
Word Originlate 18th cent.: back-formation from classification, from French, from classe ‘class’, from Latin classis ‘division’.