characteristics

noun

A distinguishing feature of a person or thing, a part of mental or physical behavior.

(nautical) The distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc.).

(mathematics) The integer part of a logarithm.

(algebra, field theory, ring theory) For a given field or ring, a natural number that is either the smallest positive number n such that n instances of the multiplicative identity (1) summed together yield the additive identity (0) or, if no such number exists, the number 0.

adjective

Being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing.

Roots

charaktercharact- · Greek · engraved mark

Synonyms & related words for characteristics

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Words related to characteristics

Explore words related to characteristics — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include traits, qualities, attributes, idiocrasy, feature, personalities, distinctive, peculiarities. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does characteristics come from?

The word characteristics breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root charact-, from Greek charakter (“engraved mark”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.