Characteristic IR refers to the unique absorption bands in an IR spectrum that indicate specific functional groups within a molecule. If an organic compound lacks characteristic IR, it suggests that there are no unique absorption bands present that can identify its functional groups. This absence of characteristic bands can also apply to IR solvents, indicating they do not interfere with detecting the desired IR bands of dissolved compounds. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately identifying organic compounds using IR spectroscopy. The discussion highlights the importance of characteristic IR in both analyte and solvent roles.