Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   pos·i·tive

   /ˈpäzədiv/

   adjective

   • 1. consisting in or characterized by the presence or possession of features or qualities rather than their absence.
   • ▪ (of a statement or decision) expressing or implying affirmation, agreement, or permission: "the company received a positive response from investors" Similar affirmativefavorableapprovingin the affirmativegoodconstructiveenthusiasticsupportivereassuringencouragingcorroborativeOpposite negative
   • ▪ (of the results of a test or experiment) indicating that a certain substance or condition is present or exists: "the positive results of a pregnancy test" Similar showing a reactionaffirmativeOpposite negative
   • ▪ (of a person) having a specified condition, or showing traces of a specified substance in their body: "a player had tested positive for cocaine use"
   • 2. constructive, optimistic, or confident: "there needs to be a positive approach to youthful offenders" Similar constructivepracticalusefulpragmaticproductivehelpfulworthwhilebeneficialeffectiveefficaciousoptimistichopefulconfidentforward-lookingcheerfulsanguinebuoyantassuredinformal:upbeatOpposite pessimistic
   • ▪ showing progress, gain, or improvement: "the election result will have a positive effect because it will restore people's confidence" Similar favorablegoodpleasingwelcomepromisingencouraginghearteningpropitiousauspiciousOpposite negative
   • 3. with no possibility of doubt; clear and definite: "he made a positive identification of a glossy ibis" Similar definiteconclusivecertaincategoricalunequivocalincontrovertibleindisputableundeniableincontestableunmistakableunambiguousindubitableunquestionableirrefutablebeyond questionbeyond a doubtabsolutereliablepersuasiveconvincingconcretetangibleclearclear-cutprecisedirectexplicitexpressfirmdecisiverealactualinformal:as sure as eggs is eggsOpposite doubtfuldisputable
   • ▪ convinced or confident in one's opinion; certain: "“You are sure it was the same man?” “Positive!”" Similar certainsureconvincedconfidentsatisfiedfree from doubtassuredpersuadedOpposite uncertainunsure
   • ▪ downright; complete (used for emphasis): informal "it's a positive delight to see you" Similar uttercompletesheerabsoluterealtotalperfectout-and-outpureoutrightthoroughgoingthoroughdownrightunmitigatedunqualifiedconsummateveritablerankunalloyedinformal:rightbloodyfair
   • 4. (of a quantity) greater than zero.
   • 5. of, containing, producing, or denoting an electric charge opposite to that carried by electrons: "each battery has a positive and negative terminal"
   • 6. (of a photographic image) showing lights and shades or colors true to the original.
   • 7. (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a quality in its basic, primary degree.
   • 8. dealing only with matters of fact and experience; not speculative or theoretical.
   • 9. relating to or denoting any of the air or fire signs, considered active in nature.

   noun

   • 1. a good, affirmative, or constructive quality or attribute: "take your weaknesses and translate them into positives"
   • 2. a photographic image showing lights and shades or colors true to the original, especially one printed from a negative: "the photographic process involves separate runs with the red, green, and blue separation positives"
   • 3. a result of a test or experiment indicating the presence of something: "let us look at the distribution of those positives"
   • 4. the part of an electric circuit that is at a higher electrical potential than another point designated as having zero electrical potential: "try linking the signal input directly to positive"
   • 5. a number greater than zero.
   • 6. an adjective or adverb in the positive degree.
   • 7. another term for positif

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit- ‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. positiveness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › positivePositive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › positive

   • Cached

   : of, relating to, or constituting the degree of comparison that is expressed in English by the unmodified and uninflected form of an adjective or adverb and denotes no increase or diminution. b (1) : independent of changing circumstances : unconditioned. an insurance policy with positive coverage. (2)

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPOSITIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   POSITIVE definition: 1. full of hope and confidence, or giving cause for hope and confidence: 2. certain and without…. Learn more.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › positivePOSITIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › positive

   • Cached

   Positive definition: explicitly stated, stipulated, or expressed. See examples of POSITIVE used in a sentence.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › positivePositive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › positive

   In the simplest sense, positive means good — or the opposite of negative. If you have a positive attitude about homework, for example, you're more likely to get positive feedback on your report card.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPOSITIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If you are positive, you are hopeful and confident, and think of the good aspects of a situation rather than the bad ones.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishPOSITIVE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   feeling happy about your life and your future: a positive attitude. I'm feeling much more positive about things now. Fewer examples. She was in a much more positive frame of mind today. Despite her illness, she has a very positive outlook on life. He maintained a positive attitude throughout.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › positivePositive - definition of positive by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › positive

   • Cached

   1. Characterized by or displaying certainty, acceptance, or affirmation: a positive answer; positive criticism. 2. Measured or moving forward or in a direction of increase or progress: positive steps. 3. a. Desirable, admirable, or beneficial: a woman with many positive qualities; the positive features of this new software. b.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionpositive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   Definition of positive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

10. www.yourdictionary.com › positivePositive Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › positive

    • Cached

    adjective. Formally or arbitrarily set; conventional; artificial. A positive law. Webster's New World. Characterized by or displaying certainty, acceptance, or affirmation. A positive answer; positive criticism. American Heritage. Similar definitions. Having the mind set or settled; confident; assured. A positive person. Webster's New World.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › positive_2positive noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › positive_2

    • Cached

    Definition of positive noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.