Definition 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
