Adjacent Words

Characteristic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CHARACTERISTIC,
CHARACTERISTICAL, a. That constitutes the character; that marks the peculiar, distinctive qualities of a person or thing.
Generosity is often a characteristic virtue of a brave man.
It is followed by of.
Generosity is characteristic of true bravery.
CHARACTERISTIC, n.
1. That which constitutes a character; that which characterizes; that which distinguishes a person or thing from another.
Invention is the characteristic of Homer.
2. In grammar, the principal letter of a word, which is preserved in most of its tenses, in its derivatives and compounds.
The characteristic of a logarithm, is its index or exponent.
The characteristic triangle of a curve, in geometry, is a rectilinear right-angled triangle, whose hypotenuse makes a part of the curve, not sensibly different from a right line.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: typical or distinctive; "heard my friend's characteristic laugh"; "red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn"; "stripes characteristic of the zebra" [ant: uncharacteristic] n
1: a prominent attribute or aspect of something; "the map showed roads and other features"; "generosity is one of his best characteristics" [syn: feature, characteristic]
2: a distinguishing quality
3: the integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2
4: any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions [syn: characteristic, device characteristic]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Date: 1664 1. a distinguishing trait, quality, or property 2. the integral part of a common logarithm 3. the smallest positive integer n which for an operation in a ring or field yields 0 when any element is used n times with the operation II. adjective Date: 1665 revealing, distinguishing, or typical of an individual character • characteristically adverb Synonyms: characteristic, individual, peculiar, distinctive mean indicating a special quality or identity. characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class <responded with her characteristic wit>. individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class <a highly individual writing style>. peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness <an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British>. distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy <a distinctive aura of grace and elegance>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. typical, distinctive (with characteristic expertise). --n. 1 a characteristic feature or quality. 2 Math. the whole number or integral part of a logarithm. Phrases and idioms: characteristic curve a graph showing the relationship between two variable but interdependent quantities. characteristic radiation radiation the wavelengths of which are peculiar to the element which emits them. Derivatives: characteristically adv. Etymology: F caractéristique or med.L characterizare f. Gk kharakterizo

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

3. A table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book; -- usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume. 4. A prologue indicating what follows. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger. 6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.] Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. Index expurgatorius. [L.] See Index prohibitorius (below). Index finger. See Index, 5. Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. Index of a logarithm (Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called the characteristic. Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.), the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the angle of refraction. Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. Index prohibitorius [L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc., under the sanction of the pope. --Hook. Index rerum [L.], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Characteristic Char`ac*ter*is"tic, a. [Gr. ?: cf. F. charact['e]ristique.] Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. Characteristic clearness of temper. --Macaulay.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Characteristic Char`ac*ter*is"tic, n. 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. --Pope. The characteristics of a true critic. --Johnson. 2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(characteristics) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. The characteristics of a person or thing are the qualities or features that belong to them and make them recognizable. Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing. ...their physical characteristics. = feature, trait N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp 2. A quality or feature that is characteristic of someone or something is one which is often seen in them and seems typical of them. Windmills are a characteristic feature of the Mallorcan landscape... Nehru responded with characteristic generosity. = typical ? uncharacteristic ADJ: oft ADJ of n • characteristically He replied in characteristically robust style... ADV: usu ADV adj, also ADV with v, ADV with cl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Special, peculiar, distinctive. 2. In keeping with one's character, thoroughly illustrative. II. n. Peculiarity, marked feature, distinguishing trait.

Moby Thesaurus

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