Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "halaye" ita ce aiki ko tsari na siffantawa ko ƙirƙirar halaye ko halayen mutum, ko wani abu a cikin aikin adabi, wasan kwaikwayo, fim, ko wani nau'i na fasaha. Ya ƙunshi bayyana ɗabi'a, ɗabi'a, muradi, motsin rai, da kuma gaskatawar haruffa ga masu sauraro ko masu karatu ta hanyar ayyukansu, tattaunawa, tunani, da mu'amala da wasu haruffa a cikin labarin. Halaye wani muhimmin abu ne wajen samar da labari mai ban sha'awa kuma abin gaskatawa kuma galibi ana amfani da shi wajen samar da hadaddun haruffa masu ma'ana da yawa wadanda suka dace da masu sauraro ko masu karatu.