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The term that describes a characteristic that can take on a range of values is continuous variation. Continuous variation refers to traits that do not have distinct categories, allowing for a smooth range of phenotypes. This means that individuals can have values that vary gradually rather than falling into separate classes. Examples of continuous variation include height, weight, and skin color, where measurable values can be found along a spectrum.

In contrast, qualitative variation refers to characteristics that can be classified into distinct categories with no intermediate forms, such as blood type. Discrete variation also refers to distinct categories, often for traits controlled by a single gene, such as the presence or absence of a specific trait. Discontinuous variation is another term used to describe traits that cannot be measured continuously, but instead fall into distinct categories, thus overlapping with discrete variation. Continuous variation is the most appropriate term for characteristics that can take on a wide range of values without clearly defined breaks.