characteristic time

noun

The order of magnitude of the reaction time scale of a system; the inverse of the reaction rate.

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Meanings

nouncharacteristic time (countable and uncountable, plural characteristic times)

plural characteristic times

  1. countablephysicaluncountablechemistryThe order of magnitude of the reaction time scale of a system; the inverse of the reaction rate.
Cite this entry
APA

characteristic time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/characteristic%20time

MLA

“characteristic time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/characteristic%20time. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “characteristic time,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/characteristic%20time.

Source: characteristic time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.