characteristic

[kar-ik-tuh-ris-tik]

adjective

Also char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal. pertaining to, constituting, or indicating the character or peculiar quality of a person or thing; typical; distinctive: Red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn.

noun

a distinguishing feature or quality: Generosity is his chief characteristic.

Mathematics.

the integral part of a common logarithm.Compare mantissa.
the exponent of 10 in a number expressed in scientific notation.
the smallest positive integer n such that each element of a given ring added to itself n times results in 0.

Origin of characteristic

From the Greek word charaktēristikós, dating back to 1655–65. See character, -istic

Related formschar·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·char·ac·ter·is·tic, adjectivenon·char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-char·ac·ter·is·tic, adjectivequa·si-char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·char·ac·ter·is·tic, adjectiveun·char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms for characteristic

1. special, peculiar. 2. attribute, property, trait. See feature.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for characteristical

Historical Examples of characteristical

The style, and even the penmanship, were distinct and characteristical.
Ormond, Volume I (of 3)
Charles Brockden Brown
Nor is the book devoid of notices of many other circumstances which were characteristical of the time.
Diary of John Manningham
John Manningham
A popular origin cannot therefore be the characteristical distinction of a popular representative.
Thoughts on the Present Discontents
Edmund Burke
But the difference of their tempers made the characteristical distinction between them.
The Man of Feeling
Henry Mackenzie
Of this, besides the general tenor of his conduct in society, some characteristical instances may be mentioned.
Life of Johnson
James Boswell

British Dictionary definitions for characteristical

characteristic

noun

a distinguishing quality, attribute, or trait

maths

the integral part of a common logarithm, indicating the order of magnitude of the associated numberthe characteristic of 2.4771 is 2 Compare mantissa
another name for exponent, used esp in number representation in computing

adjective

indicative of a distinctive quality, etc; typical

Derived Formscharacteristically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for characteristical

characteristic

adjective and noun both first attested 1660s, from character + -istic on model of Greek kharakteristikos. Earlier in the adjectival sense was characteristical (1620s). Related: Characteristically (1640s). Characteristics "distinctive traits" also attested from 1660s.

characteristical in Medicine

characteristic

[kăr′ək-tə-rĭs′tĭk]

n.

A distinguishing feature or attribute; character.

A structure or function determined by a gene or genes; trait.

Related formschar′ac•ter•is′tic adj.

characteristical in Science

characteristic

[kăr′ək-tə-rĭs′tĭk]

The part of a logarithm to the base 10 that is to the left of the decimal point. For example, if 2.749 is a logarithm, 2 is the characteristic. Compare mantissa.