physiognomy
nounUK /ˌfɪziˈɒnəmi/
US /ˌfɪziˈɑːnəmi/
A person's face and what it looks like.
The old painting showed a man with a kind and gentle physiognomy.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The practice of guessing what someone is like from the shape of their face.
Long ago, some people believed in physiognomy and judged strangers by their noses.
3. The general look or character of a place or thing.
The physiognomy of the little town changed when the new road was built.
4. The typical outward appearance of a group of plants or animals.
Scientists described the physiognomy of the desert plants in their report.