Meaning of positive in English | Powered by Free Dictionary API

noun

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

• A favourable point or characteristic.

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

• (grammar) A degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

• (grammar) An adjective or adverb in the positive degree.

• A positive image; one that displays true colors and shades, as opposed to a negative.

• The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

• A positive result of a test.

adjective

• Not negative or neutral.

• Formally laid down.

• Stated definitively and without qualification.

• Fully assured in opinion.

  Example: I’m absolutely positive you've spelt that wrong.

• Of number, greater than zero.

• Characterized by constructiveness or influence for the better.

• Overconfident, dogmatic.

• Actual, real, concrete, not theoretical or speculative.

• Having more protons than electrons.

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

  Example: ‘Better’ is an irregular comparative of the positive form ‘good’.

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

  Example: The idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes of individuals.

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

  Example: The box was not empty – I felt some positive substance within it.

• Characterized by the presence of features which support a hypothesis.

  Example: The results of our experiment are positive.

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

  Example: A positive photograph can be developed from a photographic negative.

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

  Example: The first-night reviews were largely positive.

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

  Example: Good lord, you've built up a positive arsenal of weaponry here.

• Optimistic.

  Example: He has a positive outlook on life.

• Electropositive

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

• HIV positive.

• (New Age jargon) Good, desirable, healthful, pleasant, enjoyable; (often precedes 'energy', 'thought', 'feeling' or 'emotion').