Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

characteristic

1. char.ac.ter.is.tic \.kar(-i)k-t*-'ris-tik\ \-ti-k(*-)le-\ aj : serving 
   to mark the individual character VE mean indicating a special quality or 
   identity. CHARACTERISTIC applies to something that distinguishes or 
   identifies a person or thing or class; INDIVIDUAL stresses qualities that 
   distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class; PECULIAR 
   applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or 
   kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness; DISTINCTIVE indicates qualities 
   distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy - 
   char.ac.ter.is.ti.cal.ly av SYN syn CHARACTERISTIC, INDIVIDUAL, PECULIAR, 
   DISTINCTI 
2. characteristic n 1: a distinguishing trait, quality, or property  2: the 
   integral part of a common logarithm