[Vocabulary] feature

[Julie17]

What is the meaning of 'feature' in expressions like:
'feature solid oak flooring' and 'room with feature brick fireplace'?
Thank you.

 

[Rover_KE]

Please give us full sentences to consider.

 

[Tarheel]

Well, it looks to me like something from a real estate ad.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...&qpvt="features+solid+oak+flooring"&FORM=IGRE

 

[Julie17]

Yes, Tarheel, I saw it in sales particulars, and it's used as an adjective. Could it mean something like 'unique' or 'special'?

 

[Tarheel]

If I say a house features solid oak flooring the house, of course, is not really doing anything. I am saying I want you to consider that when you think about buying the house. (It's something I think people will find attractive, so I mention it.) If I say a house features a brick fireplace and solid oak flooring I am saying those are things you will notice. They will catch your eye, and they will, hopefully, make you more interested in buying the house.

 

[Julie17]

Tarheel, I understand the use of 'feature' as a verb or a noun, but in this context it is used like an adjective ('a room with feature brick fireplace'). I suppose this is quite unusual? Does this sound very formal, stilted or even 'wrong'? I mean, real estate agents aren't necessarily very good linguists!

 

[Julie17]

By the way, it's from a British text.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's a typical example of estate agents' jargon.

 

[Julie17]

It's a typical example of estate agents' jargon.

That's the trouble with using authentic materials!

 

[Tarheel]

Tarheel, I understand the use of 'feature' as a verb or a noun, but in this context it is used like an adjective ('a room with feature brick fireplace'). I suppose this is quite unusual? Does this sound very formal, stilted or even 'wrong'? I mean, real estate agents aren't necessarily very good linguists!

It seems wrong to me. If that is really what it says ("a room with feature brick fireplace") then it might be from somebody who is clumsy with his words. I just don't think "feature" works as an adjective. (Rover is right that it is real estate jargon.)

 

[bhaisahab]

It seems wrong to me. If that is really what it says ("a room with feature brick fireplace") then it might be from somebody who is clumsy with his words. I just don't think "feature" works as an adjective. (Rover is right that it is real estate jargon.)

It works as an adjective in BrE.

 

[Tarheel]

It works as an adjective in BrE.

The OP did say it's from a British text, so I guess that explains it.

 

[Julie17]

Thank you. I have quoted the exact words and have since found even more examples of the same structure. It seems to be real estate shorthand for your sentences in #5.
I teach English to real estate 'apprentices'. I like to use authentic materials, but before I can tell my students what to write and what to avoid, I have to understand the jargon myself. Now at least I know what to tell them about 'feature'! ;-)

 

[Tarheel]

Well, if you are in Europe (Germany in this case) then you will probably prefer to use British English.