positive

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Included, present, characterized by affirmation.

2. 2

   Formally laid down.

   • In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally; that which is positive, not so.
3. 3

   Stated definitively and without qualification.

   • Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward’s son.
4. ›+ 29 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Fully assured in opinion.

      • I’m absolutely positive you've spelt that wrong.
   2. 5

      Greater than zero.

   3. 6

      Greater than or equal to zero.

      • Notice that each time the calculator balance becomes positive (zero or greater), the dollar item that forces this balance to become positive is selected for examination. Since each of these dollar items is contained […]
      • a step 10 which judges whether each of the m amounts of differences in amount of voltage changes ΔHv1 to ΔHvm are positive (zero or greater than zero) or negative (less than zero): and […]
   4. 7

      Characterized by constructiveness or influence for the better.

   5. 8

      Overconfident, dogmatic.

      • Some positive, persisting fops we know, That, if once wrong, will needs be always so.
   6. 9

      Actual, real, concrete, not theoretical or speculative.

      • [I]f the privation be good, it followes not the former condition was evill, but lesse good; for the flower or blossome, is a positive good, although the remove of it to give place to the fruit, be a comparative good.
   7. 10

      Having more protons than electrons.

      • A cation is a positive ion as it has more protons than electrons.
   8. 11

      Describing the primary sense of an adjective, adverb or noun

      Describing the primary sense of an adjective, adverb or noun; not comparative, superlative, augmentative nor diminutive.

      • ‘Better’ is an irregular comparative of the positive form ‘good’.
   9. 12

      Describing a verb that is not negated, especially in languages which have distinct…

      Describing a verb that is not negated, especially in languages which have distinct positive and negative verb forms, e.g., Finnish.

   10. 13

       Derived from an object by itself

       Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations.

       • The idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes of individuals.
       • positive knowledge
   11. 14

       Characterized by the existence or presence of distinguishing qualities or features,…

       Characterized by the existence or presence of distinguishing qualities or features, rather than by their absence.

       • The box was not empty – I felt some positive substance within it.
   12. 15

       Characterized by the presence of features which support a hypothesis.

       • The results of our experiment are positive.
   13. 16

       Confirmed, straight-up.

       • Ben […], who seems at first to be a likable guy but is actually a positive sexist.
   14. 17

       Of a visual image, true to the original in light, shade and colour values.

       • A positive photograph can be developed from a photographic negative.
   15. 18

       Favorable, desirable by those interested or invested in that which is being judged.

       • The first-night reviews were largely positive.
   16. 19

       Wholly what is expressed

       Wholly what is expressed; colloquially downright, entire, outright.

       • Good lord, you've built up a positive arsenal of weaponry here.
   17. 20

       Optimistic.

       • He has a positive outlook on life.
   18. 21

       electropositive

   19. 22

       basic

       basic; metallic; not acid; opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.

   20. 23

       HIV positive.

       • We certainly told him at that time that I was negative. We talked about transmission. We told him we don't do anything that would cause me to become positive.
   21. 24

       Good, desirable, healthful, pleasant, enjoyable.

       • positive energy; positive thoughts, feelings or emotions
   22. 25

       A thing capable of being affirmed

       A thing capable of being affirmed; something real or actual.

       • rating Positives by their Privatives
   23. 26

       A favourable point or characteristic.

   24. 27

       Something having a positive value in physics, such as an electric charge.

   25. 28

       A degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

   26. 29

       An adjective or adverb in the positive degree.

   27. 30

       A positive image

       A positive image; one that displays true colors and shades, not their opposites or complements.

   28. 31

       The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

   29. 32

       A positive result of a test.

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