positive (ˈpɒzɪtɪv
)
Definitions
adjective
- characterized by or expressing certainty or affirmation ⇒
a positive answer
- composed of or possessing actual or specific qualities; real ⇒
a positive benefit
- tending to emphasize what is good or laudable; constructive ⇒
he takes a very positive attitude when correcting pupils' mistakes
- tending towards progress or improvement; moving in a beneficial direction
- philosophy
- constructive rather than sceptical
- (of a concept) denoting the presence rather than the absence of some property
- independent of circumstances; absolute or unqualified
- (prenominal) informal (intensifier) ⇒
a positive delight
- mathematics
- having a value greater than zero ⇒
a positive number
- designating, consisting of, or graduated in one or more quantities greater than zero ⇒
positive direction
- having a value greater than zero ⇒
- mathematics
- measured in a direction opposite to that regarded as negative
- having the same magnitude as but opposite sense to an equivalent negative quantity
- grammar denoting the usual form of an adjective as opposed to its comparative or superlative form
- biology indicating movement or growth towards a particular stimulus
- physics
- (of an electric charge) having an opposite polarity to the charge of an electron and the same polarity as the charge of a proton
- (of a body, system, ion, etc) having a positive electric charge; having a deficiency of electrons ⇒
a positive ion
- (of a point in an electric circuit) having a higher electric potential than some other point with an assigned zero potential
- short for electropositive
- (of a lens) capable of causing convergence of a parallel beam of light
- medicine (of the results of an examination or test) indicating the existence or presence of a suspected disorder or pathogenic organism
- medicine (of the effect of a drug or therapeutic regimen) beneficial or satisfactory
- short for Rh positive
- (of a machine part) having precise motion with no hysteresis or backlash
- mainly US (of a government) directly involved in activities beyond the minimum maintenance of law and order, such as social welfare or the organization of scientific research
- economics of or denoting an analysis that is free of ethical, political, or value judgments
- astrology of, relating to, or governed by the group of signs of the zodiac that belong to the air and fire classifications, which are associated with a self-expressive spontaneous nature
noun
- something that is positive
- mathematics a quantity greater than zero
- photography a print or slide showing a photographic image whose colours or tones correspond to those of the original subject
- grammar the positive degree of an adjective or adverb
- a positive object, such as a terminal or plate in a voltaic cell
- music
- Also called
positive organ a medieval nonportable organ with one manual and no pedals Compare portative organ - a variant spelling of positif
- Also called
Compare
negativeAlternative Forms
ˈpositiveness ˌposiˈtivity nounWord Origin
C13: from Late Latin positīvus positive, agreed on an arbitrary basis, from pōnere to placeSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
beneficial,
effective,
useful,
practical,
helpful,
progressive,
productive,
worthwhile,
constructive,
pragmatic,
efficacious,
=
favourable,
encouraging,
enthusiastic,
good,
approving,
reassuring,
supportive,
constructive,
affirmative,
corroborative,
=
definite,
real,
clear,
firm,
certain,
direct,
express,
actual,
absolute,
concrete,
decisive,
explicit,
affirmative,
clear-cut,
unmistakable,
conclusive,
unequivocal,
indisputable,
categorical,
incontrovertible,
nailed-on,
=
absolute,
complete,
perfect,
right,
real,
total,
rank,
sheer,
utter,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
veritable,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
Quotations
"positive: mistaken at the top of one's voice"
"You've got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positiveElim-my-nate the negativeLatch on to the affirmativeDon't mess with Mister In-Between"
Translations
- British English:
positive
If you are positive, you are hopeful and confident, and think of the good aspects of a situation rather than the bad ones.Be positive about your future.ˈpɒzɪtɪv ADJECTIVE Be positive about your future.
- Spanish:
positivo
adj positiva
- French:
positif
adj
- German:
positiv
adj
- Chinese: 肯定的 adj
- Arabic: إِيجَابِيّ adj
- Portuguese: positivo adj positiva
- Russian: позитивный adj позитивная
- Croatian: pozitivan adj pozitivna
- Czech: pozitivní nf
- Danish: positiv adj
- Dutch: positief adj
- Finnish: positiivinen adj
- Greek: θετικός adj θετική
- Italian: positivo adj positiva
- Japanese: 確信している no_posp
- Korean: 적극적인 adj
- Norwegian: positiv adj
- Polish: pozytywny adj pozytywna
- Brazilian Portuguese: positivo adj positiva
- European Spanish:
positivo
adj positiva
- Swedish: positiv adj positivt
- Thai: ซึ่งมองในแง่ดี adj
- Turkish: olumlu adj
- Vietnamese: khẳng định adj
Usage examples
There are certain kinds of lovers ' quarrels which add a positive spice to heterosexual relationships.
, CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)However, his second sample from the Tour of Spain was positive.
Cycling Weekly (2004)Already she has stopped in Singapore, and there are reports of positive feedback following trade promotions there.
Irish Times (2002)With every positive performance, the suspicions towards the Swede evaporate, the hostilities fade.
Glasgow Herald (2001)In the case of New Age teachings, the emphasis is usually on changing the negative thought of anger to a positive one of forgiveness.
, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)