This is the 13198th most frequent Polish word.
określała
"Określała" means "she/it defined" or "she/it determined" in English.
The word "określała" here is a past tense form indicating the habitual action of defining, specifying, or describing.
Maria często określała swoje cele zawodowe z dużą precyzją.
Maria often defined her career goals with great precision.
The word "określała" here shows a more interpretive use, where the subject chooses how to define or perceive something.
Chociaż sytuacja była trudna, zawsze określała to jako wyzwanie, nie problem.
Although the situation was tough, she always described it as a challenge, not a problem.
In this context, "określała" is used to express the teacher’s act of describing or characterizing something.