ˈpɔzətɪv adj. & n. --adj. 1 formally or explicitly stated;
definite,
unquestionable (positive proof). 2 (of a person) convinced,
confident, or
overconfident in
his or
her opinion (positive
that I
was not there). 3 a
absolute; not
relative. b Gram. (of an
adjective or adverb) expressing a
simple quality without comparison (cf.
COMPARATIVE, SUPERLATIVE). 4 colloq.
downright;
complete (it
would be a positive miracle). 5
constructive;
directional (positive
criticism; positive thinking). 6
marked by
the presence rather than absence of qualities or
Med. symptoms (a positive
reaction to the
plan; the test was positive). 7
esp. Philos. dealing
only with matters of
fact;
practical (cf.
POSITIVISM 1). 8 tending in a
direction naturally or arbitrarily taken as that of
increase or
progress (clockwise
rotation is positive). 9 greater than
zero (positive
and negative integers) (opp. NEGATIVE). 10 Electr.
of, containing, or producing the kind of
electrical charge produced by
rubbing glass with
silk; an absence of electrons. 11 (of a photographic image)
showing lights and shades or colours
true to the
original (opp. NEGATIVE). --n. a positive adjective,
photograph,
quantity, etc. øpositive
discrimination the
practice of
making distinctions in
favour of groups considered to be
underprivileged. positive
feedback 1 a constructive
response to an
experiment,
questionnaire, etc. 2
Electronics the
return of
part of an
output signal to the
input, tending to increase the amplification etc. positive
geotropism see GEOTROPISM. positive
pole the north-seeking pole. positive ray
Physics a
canal ray. positive
sign =
plus sign. positive vetting
Brit. an
exhaustive inquiry into the
background and
character of a
candidate for a post in the
Civil Service that involves
access to
secret material. øøpositively adv. positiveness n. positivity n. [ME f. OF positif
-ive or L positivus (as POSIT)]
