characteristiccharacteristic2 ●●○ adjective 
the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local housescharacteristic of the qualities that were characteristic of the Nixon administration► see thesaurus at typical—characteristically /-kli/ adverbRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say typical rather than characteristic:· The building is typical of those in the area.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Each species of bird has its own characteristic song.
- Larry, with characteristic generosity, invited everyone back to his house.
- Naomi is meeting the changes in her life with characteristic optimism.
- This pattern is characteristic of the local architecture.
- A few characteristic ways of changing minds may be examined.
- Component subskills in reading and spelling A characteristic feature of any skill is a hierarchical organisation of component subskills.
- Contrasts of major and minor keys with the same root, found but once in Stuck's first book, are characteristic.
- Dress not only covers and decorates the body but instils in the wearer its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses.
- In the advanced case, the upper limb is carried in a characteristic posture of flexion, adduction, and pronation.
- The choices are unlimited, but here are some of the characteristic elements which help to give a kitchen a particular atmosphere.
- What is characteristic of his interpretation is that he did not attribute any importance to the Maccabean movement.
THESAURUS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Longman Language Activatortypical behaviour or qualities behaviour or actions that are typical of a person are just what you usually expect them to do, especially when this is something bad or annoying: · "Dad forgot to mail the letter." "That's just typical!"· Mrs Quilley greeted the guests with typical charm and confidence.· This is typical adolescent behaviour - part of the process of becoming independent from your parents.it is typical of somebody to do something: · It's typical of Ramon to waste time when he knows we're already late.
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.· Larry, with characteristic generosity, invited everyone back to his house.characteristic of: · This pattern is characteristic of the local architecture.
if you say that something is just what you'd expect , you mean that it is exactly what your idea of someone makes you expect them to do: · Jenny's house is very clean and neat, just what you'd expect.· He was annoyed, but he soon got over it -- just what you'd expect, in fact.
if you say that someone's action or behaviour is just like them, you mean that it is typical of them in a way that annoys you: · You have left everything to the last minute. That's just like you.it is just like somebody to do something: · It's just like Uncle Roy to invite us all to lunch and then forget to tell Aunt Sarah.· It would be just like my son to get the measles twice.
used for saying that you are not surprised that someone has done something or behaved in a particular way, because it's the kind of thing they often do: · He was late, of course, but that's Tim all over.· "That's Dora all over," interrupted Rose with a sniff. "Once she gets an idea into her head, nothing will stop her."
if you say that someone does something true to form you mean it is very typical of them, especially when it is something annoying: · True to form, Oliver turned up late and drunk.· They promised to pay by Friday and yes, true to form, the money didn't arrive till Wednesday.
you say someone would do something when they do something that is typical of them and you want to criticize them for it: · "Janice is going to be late for the meeting." "She would be!"· "And then Harry got drunk." "He would do, wouldn't he!"
usual and expected for a particular person or type of person or a situation - you can often use this in humorous contexts: · It was a typical student's room with the inevitable Van Gogh print on the wall.· Dinner started with the inevitable chicken soup.· In the subway I got cornered by the inevitable drunkard wanting to give me some advice.
an action or remark that is in character is typical of someone's character: · Julie said that? That doesn't seem to be in character at all.· His reaction was quite in character. The man had no respect for education, and it was no surprise when he took his son out of school.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local housesCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The main distinguishing feature of this species is the leaf shape. She has an irritating habit of interrupting.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local houses The main distinguishing feature of this species is the leaf shape. She has an irritating habit of interrupting.· Basking is highly characteristic of arctic insects.· This highly characteristic Fifties attitude makes Souza's work look as if it belongs to a time rather than a place.
· The bright chestnut is considered the most characteristic colour and, all other things being equal, the one to be preferred.· The location and quality of the pain are most characteristic.· The most characteristic feature of addictive disease is that it is a relapsing condition.· When, in his most characteristic gesture, he presses a gesticulating finger to his forehead, his hand trembles.· These spatter cones contain little, if any, fine-grained ashy material and are amongst the most characteristic products of Hawaiian eruptions.· I have focused attention on identification with the society as being the most characteristic attitude thus expressed by citizens.· These small crystals are known as phenocrysts and are one of the most characteristic features of andesites.· One of the most characteristic signals of a cat entering or leaving a social group is the raising of its tail.
· Within the legal container of marriage, the idealization and illusion so characteristic or the in-love state can take a nasty knock.· This change is so characteristic that its absence should raise a serious question about the diagnosis.· And this is without the inevitable political and legal wrangling so characteristic of any nuclear activity in the United States.
· The cluster is made up of a small quadrilateral which is distinctive enough, and is very characteristic with × 20.· Mitch Miller always had a very characteristic conducting style, with his hand in the 0.· There is something very characteristic of Mary Leapor in these lines.· This kind of difference in detail is very characteristic of convergent evolution, as we have seen.· The whole cluster is in the same binocular field, even with × 20, and the shape is very characteristic.· But amygdalin reacts with an enzyme in the almond to produce glucose and two very characteristic compounds, benzaldehyde and prussic acid.
NOUN· Though these problems are a characteristic feature of modern life, they have been with us for a very long time.· These are the characteristic features of a Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood as seen in a male.· The use of alternative names is a characteristic feature of Near Eastern writing.· These small crystals are known as phenocrysts and are one of the most characteristic features of andesites.· The characteristic feature of Brindley's canals was their winding routes, following contours as far as possible without involving major earthworks.· One of the characteristic features of their communities is the street-based group activity.· Consider two of the characteristic features of the first sub-stage of the period Piaget calls the period of concrete operations.· This social mobility is a characteristic feature, and has two implications.
· Yet they did have an important influence on the evolution of bargaining structure and the characteristic form which it assumed.
· The result is a characteristic pattern of light and dark fringes.· In essential schizophrenia the characteristic pattern is of withdrawal from the impacts of experience in the outside world.· M39 is very loose, but sufficiently condensed to make it obvious, particularly in view of the characteristic pattern of its leading stars.
· Whatever the colour scheme, there are certain characteristic styles.· The characteristic styles of great architects and designers may be seen clearly reflected - Chippendale, Sheraton, Adam and Hepplewhite.
· It shatters satisfyingly when hammered, and it does so in a characteristic way.· They were all running, each in its own characteristic way, like a gathering of old friends in animated conversation.· A few characteristic ways of changing minds may be examined.· The evangelists make the point in their own characteristic ways.· It is helpful to think of a leader more as a role with characteristic ways of behaving than as a particular person.· Each has already developed its own characteristic way of exploiting that major insect invention, flight.· The mammals have their own special and characteristic way of fuelling their developing young.
WORD FAMILYnouncharactercharacteristiccharacterizationadjectivecharacteristic ≠ uncharacteristiccharacterlessverbcharacterizeadverbcharacteristically ≠ uncharacteristically
very typical of a particular thing or of someone’s character: the highly characteristic (=very typical) flint walls of the local housescharacteristic of the qualities that were characteristic of the Nixon administration► see thesaurus at typical—characteristically /-kli/ adverbRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say typical rather than characteristic:· The building is typical of those in the area.