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1. A prominent attribute or aspect of something
   "generosity is one of his best characteristics";
   - feature
    
2. A distinguishing quality; a feature that can be used to identify something
    
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. (electronics) any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions
   - device characteristic

1. Typical or distinctive
   "heard my friend's characteristic laugh"; "red and gold are the characteristic colours of autumn"; "stripes characteristic of the zebra"

Derived forms: characteristics

See also: diagnostic, distinctive, peculiar, symptomatic, typical

Type of: attribute, dimension, integer, property, quality, whole number

Antonym: uncharacteristic

Part of: nature

Encyclopedia: Characteristic