characteristic

[ kar-ik-tuh-ris-tik ]

/ ˌkær ɪk təˈrɪs tɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR characteristic ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

character sketch, character study, character type, character witness, characterful, characteristic, characteristic curve, characteristic equation, characteristic function, characteristic polynomial, characteristic root

Origin of characteristic

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

SYNONYMS FOR characteristic

1 special, peculiar.

2 attribute, property, trait. See feature.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR characteristic ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

char·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, adjective

qua·si-char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·char·ac·ter·is·tic, adjectiveun·char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for characteristics

This is exciting because it seems that this turmeric compound can enhance the characteristics of NSCs.
Fish Oil, Turmeric, and Ginseng, Oh My! Are ‘Brain Foods’ B.S.?|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The association was statistically significant and held up even when adjusted for age and other characteristics.
How Big Pharma Holds Back in the War on Cancer|ProPublica|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Subject has athletic build, calloused knuckles, broken nose – characteristics of martial arts practitioners.
Russia Tells ‘Tourists’ How to Go Fight in Ukraine|Oleg Shynkarenko|April 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I heard so much about him, and everyone says that I inherited a lot of characteristics from him.
How I Write: Jane Goodall|Noah Charney|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In psychological terms, these characteristics are found in sociopaths and narcissists.
No, Affluenza Is Not a Real Thing|Dr. Michelle K. London|December 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They had been naturally attracted and pleased by his marked social qualities and characteristics.
Blood Royal|Grant Allen
But softness and irresolution were the characteristics of Austria's generals no less than of her rulers.
The Life of Napoleon I (Volumes, 1 and 2)|John Holland Rose
Of course, all these characteristics of our own society mark tendencies that are common enough in all societies.
On Compromise|John Morley
A blunt regard to truth has always been one of my characteristics.
The Moving Finger|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Promptitude was one of Wolfe's characteristics; he never let grass grow under his feet.
French and English|Evelyn Everett-Green

British Dictionary definitions for characteristics

characteristic

/ (ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk) /

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 Forms

characteristically, 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

Medicine definitions for characteristics

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 forms

char′ac•ter•is′tic adj.

Science definitions for characteristics

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.