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characteristic definition

char·ac·ter·is·tic (kar′ək tər is′tik, kar′ik-)

adjective

of or constituting the special character; typical; distinctive the characteristic odor of cabbage

Etymology: Gr charaktēristikos: see character

noun

  1. a distinguishing trait, feature, or quality; peculiarity
  2. the whole number, or integral part, of a logarithm, as distinguished from the mantissa 4 is the characteristic of the logarithm 4.7193

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical characteristic definition - medical

characteristic Synonyms

characteristic

modif.

distinctive, typical, representative, distinguishing, peculiar, individual, idiosyncratic, emblematic, natural, normal, innate, fixed, essential, marked, discriminative, symbolic, individualizing, discriminating, specific, personal, signature, trademark, original, individualistic, differentiating, unique, special, appropriate, particular, symptomatic, private, exclusive, inherent, inborn, inbred, ingrained, native, diagnostic, indicative, diacritical, inseparable, ineradicable, in the blood, true to form; see also natural 1, 2, typical.

Antonyms uncharacteristic, aberrant, unexpected, erratic.

characteristic suggests the indication of a quality that is typical of or peculiar to, and that helps identify, something or someone her characteristic disdain for convention, the characteristic taste of honey; individual and distinctive suggest the possession of a quality or qualities that distinguish something from others of its class or kind, distinctive often adding the implication of excellence an individual, or distinctive, literary style


characteristic

n.

trait, feature, attribute, quality, property, essential, faculty, peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, individuality, style, aspect, flavor, savor, tone, tinge, distinction, manner, bearing, inclination, nature, personality, temperament, frame, originality, singularity, qualification, virtue, mark, essence, point, turn, caliber, complexion, streak, stripe, particularity, lineament, diagnostic, cast, trick, earmark, mannerism, quirk, trademark, badge, symptom, disposition, specialty, mood, character, endowment, bent, tendency, component, thing*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

characteristic Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • citta: Therefore, we should know the difference between the characteristic of kusala citta and of akusala citta.

Converse of object

  • define: Perhaps it is the defining characteristic of people in the early 21 st Century.

Adjective modifier

  • demographic: More severe policy status of recently family demographic characteristics for individuals with disabilities.

Modifies a noun

  • impedance: The communications medium is an excellent foil shielded twisted pair cable with unusually high characteristic impedance.

Noun used with modifier

  • handling: Seemed the body of the mic was coupled directly to the capsule, giving it extremely sensetive handling characteristics.
characteristic usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

characteristic quotes

Essential characteristic of the really great novelist: a Christ-like, all-embracing compassion.

-Bennett, (Enoch) Arnold

Posterity will do justice to that unprincipled maniac Gladstoneöan extraordinary mixture of envy, vindictiveness, hypocrisyand superstition and with one commanding characteristic.Whether Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition, whether preaching, praying, speechifying, or scribblingöneveragentleman.Heisso vain that he wants to figure in history as the settler of all the great questions; but a parliamentary Constitution is not favourable to such ambitions. Things must be done by parties, not by persons using parties as tools.

-Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

All known religious beliefs, whether simple or complex, present one common characteristic: they presuppose a classification of all things, real and ideal, of which men think, into two classes or opposed groups, generally designated†profane and sacred.

-Durkheim, EŁ  mile

characteristic quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"characteristic." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/characteristic>

APA Style

characteristic. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/characteristic

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