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characteristic

/ˌkæɹəktəˈɹɪstɪk/ /ˌkɛɹəktəˈɹɪstɪk/
Visual illustration of characteristic: 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.
noun

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.