characteristic

Word family  noun character characteristic characterization adjective characteristic ≠ uncharacteristic characterless verb characterize adverb characteristically ≠ uncharacteristically

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++char·ac·ter·is·tic1 /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk◂/ ●●○ S3 W2 noun [countable usually plural]  CHARACTER OF somethingCHARACTER/PERSONALITYa quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of them and easy to recognize 〔物或人的〕特征，特性，特色characteristic of a baby discovering the physical characteristics of objects 为物体形状特征吸引的宝宝defining/distinguishing characteristic (=one that separates someone or something from others of the same type) 鲜明的/与众不同的特征 Violent images are a defining characteristic of his work. 暴力形象是他作品的一个鲜明特征。n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa physical characteristicphysical characteristics such as your height and weighta personal characteristic (=relating to someone’s character)What are the personal characteristics that a leader requires?a human characteristicThe power of speech is an entirely human characteristic.a national characteristic (=typical of the people of a country)Organization is often seen as a German national characteristic.the main characteristic of somethingA new interest in art was one of the main characteristics of this period.a common characteristic (=that people or things share)Successful firms tend to have common characteristics.a distinguishing/distinctive characteristic (=separating someone or something from others of the same type)The blue feathers are the distinguishing characteristic of the male bird.a defining characteristic (=one that is necessary in order to be a particular type of person or thing)Originality is one of the defining characteristics of a great band.an important/essential characteristicAn essential characteristic of good teaching is that it must create interest in the learner.an inherited characteristicIntelligence is an inherited characteristic.a striking characteristicIts canals are one of Amsterdam’s most striking characteristics.verbshave a characteristic (also possess a characteristic formal)He has all the characteristics of a great husband.show a characteristic (also exhibit a characteristic formal)A material may exhibit the characteristics of both a liquid and a solid.share a characteristicThe group shared one characteristic - they were all under 25.inherit a characteristic (=get a characteristic from your parent)We all inherit physical characteristics from our parents.n THESAURUScharacteristic something that is typical of someone or something and makes them easy to recognizeHe had several characteristics which made him different to the rest of his family.the physical characteristics of the brainHe studied the special characteristics of adult speech addressed to children.quality a characteristic of a person, especially a good one such as kindness or intelligenceTina has a lot of good qualities.I’m not sure about his leadership qualities.Obedience is a quality that my father admires.feature an important or interesting characteristic of something it seems to be a feature of modern society that we tend to judge ourselves by our work above everything else. A curious feature of the novel is the absence of women.The building still has many of its original features. property [usually plural] technical a characteristic of a substance or object, for example hardness or elasticity, or how it behaves – used especially in scientific contextsWe examined the physical properties of various metals.changes in the electrical properties of cellsSome plants have healing properties.attribute formal a good or useful characteristicI suspected I probably did not quite possess all the attributes required to succeed at the highest level.All living things are able to reproduce their kind, an attribute which no machine possesses..good/bad points good or bad characteristics – used when someone or something has both good and bad characteristicsThe seller will obviously emphasize the car’s good points.Draw up a list of your partner’s good and bad points.

Examples from the Corpus

characteristic• Their acidic characteristics makes them particularly suitable for the dairy industry, breweries and soft drink manufacturers.• All great leaders share certain characteristics which must be seen as the key to their success.• A chief characteristic of isolationism is not caring very much about what happens elsewhere.• Ralph can be very mean sometimes. It's one of his less endearing characteristics.• In this chapter we have seen that growth is an inherent characteristic of both the Kingdom and the Church.• The main characteristics of capitalism are private ownership of capital and freedom of enterprise.• The UK shares many characteristics with other European countries.• The two diseases have a number of characteristics in common.• But in fact lawyers vary all over the lot in their personality characteristics.• Can you describe the robber's physical characteristics?• The second characteristic of my industrial world is that it is incredibly international.• The most striking characteristic of Morris's designs is a sensuous vitality derived from his deep love of nature.• These are also the characteristics of good citizenship, and they should be emphasized in the teaching of all subjects.• Leadership and honesty are the characteristics of a good manager.• One of the characteristics of this species is the dark blue markings on its back.• As educators, we are concerned with the characteristics of both learners and their environments.characteristic of• The vase is characteristic of 16th century Chinese art.characteristic2 ●●○ adjective  TYPICALvery typical of a particular thing or of someone’s character 典型的；独特的 the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local houses 当地房子非常有特色的燧石墙characteristic of the qualities that were characteristic of the Nixon administration 尼克松政府的典型特征► see thesaurus at typical —characteristically /-kli/ adverb RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say typical rather than characteristic: 在日常英语中，人们一般说typical，而不说characteristicThe building is typical of those in the area. 这是当地典型的建筑。

Examples from the Corpus

characteristic• Contrasts of major and minor keys with the same root, found but once in Stuck's first book, are characteristic.• The choices are unlimited, but here are some of the characteristic elements which help to give a kitchen a particular atmosphere.• Component subskills in reading and spelling A characteristic feature of any skill is a hierarchical organisation of component subskills.• Larry, with characteristic generosity, invited everyone back to his house.• What is characteristic of his interpretation is that he did not attribute any importance to the Maccabean movement.• This pattern is characteristic of the local architecture.• Naomi is meeting the changes in her life with characteristic optimism.• In the advanced case, the upper limb is carried in a characteristic posture of flexion, adduction, and pronation.• Each species of bird has its own characteristic song.• Dress not only covers and decorates the body but instils in the wearer its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses.• A few characteristic ways of changing minds may be examined.highly characteristic• This highly characteristic Fifties attitude makes Souza's work look as if it belongs to a time rather than a place.• Basking is highly characteristic of arctic insects.

char·ac·ter·is·tic1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n THESAURUS1characteristic2 adjective →REGISTER1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

someone or something quality feature or of a Corpus

characteristic

I

char‧ac‧ter‧is‧tic¹ S3 W2 /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk◂, ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk◂/ noun [countable usually plural]a quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of them and easy to recognize
    characteristic of
    a baby discovering the physical characteristics of objects
    defining/distinguishing characteristic (=one that separates someone or something from others of the same type)
    Violent images are a defining characteristic of his work.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ a physical characteristic physical characteristics such as your height and weight
   ▪ a personal characteristic (=relating to someone’s character) What are the personal characteristics that a leader requires?
   ▪ a human characteristic The power of speech is an entirely human characteristic.
   ▪ a national characteristic (=typical of the people of a country) Organization is often seen as a German national characteristic.
   ▪ the main characteristic of something A new interest in art was one of the main characteristics of this period.
   ▪ a common characteristic (=that people or things share) Successful firms tend to have common characteristics.
   ▪ a distinguishing/distinctive characteristic (=separating someone or something from others of the same type) The blue feathers are the distinguishing characteristic of the male bird.
   ▪ a defining characteristic (=one that is necessary in order to be a particular type of person or thing) Originality is one of the defining characteristics of a great band.
   ▪ an important/essential characteristic An essential characteristic of good teaching is that it must create interest in the learner.
   ▪ an inherited characteristic Intelligence is an inherited characteristic.
   ▪ a striking characteristic Its canals are one of Amsterdam’s most striking characteristics.
■ verbs
   ▪ have a characteristic (also possess a characteristic formal) He has all the characteristics of a great husband.
   ▪ show a characteristic (also exhibit a characteristic formal) A material may exhibit the characteristics of both a liquid and a solid.
   ▪ share a characteristic The group shared one characteristic - they were all under 25.
   ▪ inherit a characteristic (=get a characterstic from your parent) We all inherit physical characteristics from our parents.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ characteristic something that is typical of someone or something and makes them easy to recognize: He had several characteristics which made him different to the rest of his family. | the physical characteristics of the brain | He studied the special characteristics of adult speech addressed to children.
   ▪ quality a characteristic of a person, especially a good one such as kindness or intelligence: Tina has a lot of good qualities. | I’m not sure about his leadership qualities. | Obedience is a quality that my father admires.
   ▪ feature an important or interesting characteristic of something: it seems to be a feature of modern society that we tend to judge ourselves by our work above everything else. | A curious feature of the novel is the absence of women. | The building still has many of its original features.
   ▪ property [usually plural] technical a characteristic of a substance or object, for example hardness or elasticity, or how it behaves - used especially in scientific contexts: We examined the physical properties of various metals. | changes in the electrical properties of cells | Some plants have healing properties.
   ▪ attribute formal a good or useful characteristic: I suspected I probably did not quite possess all the attributes required to succeed at the highest level. | All living things are able to reproduce their kind, an attribute which no machine possesses..
   ▪ good/bad points good or bad characteristics – used when someone or something has both good and bad characteristics: The seller will obviously emphasize the car’s good points. | Draw up a list of your partner’s good and bad points.

II

characteristic² adjectivevery typical of a particular thing or of someone’s character:
    the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local houses
    characteristic of
    the qualities that were characteristic of the Nixon administration
—characteristically /-kli/ adverb
     
REGISTER
  In everyday English, people usually say typical rather than characteristic:
  ▪ The building is typical of those in the area.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ typical a typical person or thing is a good example of that type of person or thing: With his camera around his neck, he looked like a typical tourist. | The windows are typical of houses built during this period.
   ▪ classic used to describe a very typical and very good example of something: It was a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease. | a classic mistake | The book is a classic example of great teamwork.
   ▪ archetypal the archetypal person or thing is the most typical example of that kind of person or thing, and has all their most important qualities: the archetypal English village | Indiana Jones is the archetypal adventure hero.
   ▪ quintessential used when you want to emphasize that someone or something is the very best example of something – used especially when you admire them very much: the quintessential guide to New York | Robert Plant is the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll singer.
   ▪ stereotypical having the characteristics that many people believe a particular type of person or thing has – used when you think these beliefs are not true: Hollywood films are full of stereotypical images of women as wives and mothers. | He challenges stereotypical ideas about people with disabilities.
   ▪ representative containing the most common types of people or things that are found in something, and showing what it is usually like: a representative sample of college students
   ▪ characteristic very typical of a particular type of thing, or of someone’s character or usual behaviour: Each species of bird has its own characteristic song. | What gives Paris its characteristic charm? | He played with his characteristic skill. | the characteristic symptoms of the disease
   ▪ be the epitome of something to be the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing or of a particular quality: His house was thought to be the epitome of good taste.