Definition of characteristic. Meaning of characteristic. Synonyms of characteristic

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word characteristic. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word characteristic and, of course, characteristic synonyms and on the right images related to the word characteristic.

Definition of characteristic

characteristic
3. A table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book; -- usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume. 4. A prologue indicating what follows. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger. 6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.] Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. Index expurgatorius. [L.] See Index prohibitorius (below). Index finger. See Index, 5. Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. Index of a logarithm (Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called the characteristic. Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.), the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the angle of refraction. Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. Index prohibitorius [L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc., under the sanction of the pope. --Hook. Index rerum [L.], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc.
Characteristic
Characteristic Char`ac*ter*is"tic, n. 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. --Pope. The characteristics of a true critic. --Johnson. 2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.

Meaning of characteristic from wikipedia

- characteristic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A characteristic is a distinguishing feature of a person or thing. It may refer to: Characteristic...
- In mathematics, the term "characteristic function" can refer to any of several distinct concepts: The indicator function of a subset, that is the function...
- Characteristic equation may refer to: Characteristic equation (calculus), used to solve linear differential equations Characteristic equation, the equation...
- In mathematics, the characteristic of a ring R, often denoted char(R), is defined to be the smallest positive number of copies of the ring's multiplicative...
- topology and polyhedral combinatorics, the Euler characteristic (or Euler number, or Euler–Poincaré characteristic) is a topological invariant, a number that...
- In physics, a characteristic length is an important dimension that defines the scale of a physical system. Often, such a length is used as an input to...
- Characteristic curve may refer to: In electronics, a current–voltage characteristic curve Semiconductor curve tracer, a device for displaying the above...
- In linear algebra, the characteristic polynomial of a square matrix is a polynomial which is invariant under matrix similarity and has the eigenvalues...
- A light characteristic is all of the properties that make a particular somewhat navigational light identifiable. Graphical and textual descriptions of...
- A characteristic property is a chemical or physical property that helps identify and classify substances. The characteristic properties of a substance...