Lexic.us

Definition of Characteristic

1. Adjective. Typical or distinctive. "Stripes characteristic of the zebra"

2. Noun. A prominent attribute or aspect of something. "Generosity is one of his best characteristics"

3. Noun. A distinguishing quality.

4. Noun. The integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2.

5. Noun. Any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions.

Definition of Characteristic

1. a. Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive.

2. n. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized.

Definition of Characteristic

1. Adjective. being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing ¹

2. Noun. a distinguishable feature of a person or thing ¹

3. Noun. (mathematics) the integer part of a logarithm ¹

4. Noun. (nautical) the distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc) ¹

5. Noun. (algebra field theory) The minimum number of times that the unit of a field must be added unto itself in order to yield that field's zero, or, if that minimum natural number does not exist, then (the integer) zero. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Characteristic

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Characteristic

1. Synonym: character. 2. Typical or distinctive of a particular disorder. (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Characteristic

characteries charactering characteriological characteriologically characterisability characterisable characterisation characterisations characterise characterised

characterises characterisic function characterising characterism characterisms characteristic characteristic X-ray characteristic curve characteristic emission characteristic function

characteristic polynomial characteristic polynomials characteristic radiation characteristical characteristically characteristicalness characteristick characteristicness characteristics characterizability

Literary usage of Characteristic

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"As a consequence, the most important element characteristic of its nature must be the supernatural. As a further determining factor must be added its ..."

2. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1876)
"The characteristic of this book is its illustration by the process now becoming so popular. There are twenty magnificent etchings by such engravers as ..."

3. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN, Sidney Lee (1888)
"He now began 'Dombey,'and worked at it vigorously, though feeling occasionally his oddly characteristic craving for streets. The absence of streets 'worried ..."

4. The American Mathematical Monthly by Mathematical Association of America (1922)
"For instance, a characteristic operator of a group is defined as an operator ... In particular, the identity is a characteristic operator of every possible ..."

5. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, Henry Reeve (1900)
"THE STRIKING Characteristic OF THE SOCIAL CONDITION- OP THE ANGLO-AMERICANS IN ITS ESSENTIAL DEMOCRACY The first emigrants of New England—Their ..."

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