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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 © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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