The term 'characteristic feature' can be summarized as a TRAIT or quality that is unique to a person, place, or thing. It is often used to describe the distinguishing features of an individual or group. For example, a characteristic feature of a particular culture might be its language, cuisine, or customs. In the crossword, the solution for the term 'characteristic feature' is 'TRAIT, ' which is a word used to describe a quality or attribute that is unique to a person or thing.