characteristic
pronunciation
How to pronounce characteristic in British English:
UK [ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk]
How to pronounce characteristic in American English:
US [ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk]
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- Noun:
- a prominent aspect of something
- a distinguishing quality
- the integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2
- any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions
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- Adjective:
- typical or distinctive
Word Origin
- 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.
Example
- 1. That is characteristic of a young developing country .
- 2. Yet autonomy is the characteristic of all successful institutions .
- 3. This characteristic makes developing immune therapies easier .
- 4. With characteristic adroitness , he abandoned morgenthau .
- 5. The burial mound was the principle characteristic of all of these societies .