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Glite Dictionary
characteristic function

characteristic function

8.5
A graph that shows how a device's output changes when input voltage changes
  • noun
  • /ˌkɛrɪktəˈrɪstɪk ˈfʌŋkʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : función característica

Examples

  • I can take the characteristic function B~ of K.

  • The characteristic function of a device illustrates how its properties vary with different input parameters.

  • Engineers use the characteristic function to analyze how a circuit behaves under varying conditions.

  • To understand the performance of the system, we plotted the characteristic function against temperature and pressure.

Synonyms

profile
vscharacteristic function
  • Specialized
246 4.6

A set of information that shows the main features of someone or something

focuses on one device property changing with parameters rather than many qualities
characteristic curve
vscharacteristic function
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A graph that shows how one device property changes as another thing changes, like voltage or temperature

is the same graph term but uses a different technical label

Surface Forms

characteristic function singular
characteristic functions plural

Morphology

characteristic + function

The phrase is largely compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'characteristic' (a property) and 'function' (a mapping or relation) can infer it means a function describing a property of a device. However, the exact technical sense (a plotted graph in electronics, and field-dependent specialized uses in math) is domain-specific and not fully predictable from the words alone, so some prior exposure is needed.

Etymology

Characteristic function comes from two words: characteristic, meaning a device's noticeable 'trait', and function, meaning a 'graph' or a 'way something changes'. So a characteristic function is literally a graph that shows a device's trait as conditions change, which is why the name fits its modern use in electronics.