Associations to the word «Characteristic»

Wiktionary

CHARACTERISTIC, adjective. Being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing.
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. A distinguishable feature of a person or thing
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. (mathematics) the integer part of a logarithm
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. (nautical) the distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc)
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. (algebra) (field theory) The minimum number of times that the unit of a field must be added unto itself in order to yield that field's zero, or, if that minimum natural number does not exist, then (the integer) zero.
CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTION, noun. (analysis) A function which is equal to 1 for all points in its domain which belong to a given set, and is equal to 0 for all points in the domain which do not belong to that given set.
CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTION, noun. (maths) (probability theory) A complex function completely defining the probability distribution of a real-valued random variable
CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTIONS, noun. Plural of characteristic function
CHARACTERISTIC POLYNOMIAL, noun. (linear algebra) The determinant, of a matrix minus an indeterminant times the identity matrix
CHARACTERISTIC POLYNOMIALS, noun. Plural of characteristic polynomial

Dictionary definition

CHARACTERISTIC, noun. A prominent attribute or aspect of something; "the map showed roads and other features"; "generosity is one of his best characteristics".
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. A distinguishing quality.
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. The integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2.
CHARACTERISTIC, noun. Any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions.
CHARACTERISTIC, adjective. Typical or distinctive; "heard my friend's characteristic laugh"; "red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn"; "stripes characteristic of the zebra".

Wise words

All my life I've looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time.
Ernest Hemingway