SINCE 1828
characteristic curve
nounDefinition of characteristic curve
: the graphic curve or the graph picturing it that shows the relation between two variables
a characteristic curve plotting the variations of grid potential and plate current in the normal operation of a vacuum tube the patient's fever chart showed the characteristic curve for the disease
:
a
: the curve indicating the variation of density in a developed photographic image that results from the increase of exposure expressed logarithmically
— called also H and D curve, sensitometric curve
b
: a curve showing the relationship between frequency and recording intensity or frequency and reproducing intensity in sound recording
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