pos·i·tive (p z  -tv)adj. 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. 3. Explicitly or openly expressed or laid down: a positive demand. 4. Admitting of no doubt; irrefutable: positive proof. 5. a. Very sure; confident: I'm positive he's right. See Synonyms at sure. b. Overconfident; dogmatic. 6. Formally or arbitrarily determined; prescribed. 7. Concerned with practical rather than theoretical matters. 8. Composed of or characterized by the presence of particular qualities or attributes; real. 9. Philosophy a. Of or relating to positivism. b. Of or relating to laws imposed by human authority rather than by nature or reason alone: "the glaring discrepancy between American positive law and natural rights" (David Brion Davis). c. Of or relating to religion based on revelation rather than on nature or reason alone. 10. Informal Utter; absolute: a positive darling. 11. Mathematics a. Relating to or designating a quantity greater than zero. b. Relating to or designating the sign (+). c. Relating to or designating a quantity, number, angle, or direction opposite to another designated as negative. 12. Physics Relating to or designating an electric charge of a sign opposite to that of an electron. 13. Medicine Indicating the presence of a particular disease, condition, or organism: a positive test for pregnancy. 14. Biology Indicating or characterized by response or motion toward the source of a stimulus, such as light: positive tropism. 15. Having the areas of light and dark in their original and normal relationship, as in a photographic print made from a negative. 16. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the simple uncompared degree of an adjective or adverb, as opposed to either the comparative or superlative. 17. Driven by or generating power directly through intermediate machine parts having little or no play: positive drive. n. 1. An affirmative element or characteristic. 2. Mathematics A quantity greater than zero. 3. Physics A positive electric charge. 4. A photographic image in which the lights and darks appear as they do in nature. 5. Grammar a. The uncompared degree of an adjective or adverb. b. A word in this degree. 6. Music A division of some pipe organs, similar in sound to the great but smaller and less powerful. [Middle English, having a specified quality, from Old French positif, from Latin posit  vus, formally laid down, from positus, past participle of p nere, to place; see apo- in Indo-European roots.]pos i·tive·ly adv.pos i·tive·ness, pos i·tivi·ty n. |
positive
Adjective
1. expressing certainty: a positive answer
2. definite or certain: are you absolutely positive about the date?
3. tending to emphasize what is good; constructive: positive thinking
4. tending towards progress or improvement: investment that could have a positive impact on the company's fortunes
5. Philosophy constructive rather than sceptical
6. Informal complete; downright: a positive delight
7. Maths having a value greater than zero: a positive number
8. Grammar denoting the unmodified form of an adjective as opposed to its comparative or superlative form
9. Physics (of an electric charge) having an opposite charge to that of an electron
10. Physics short for electropositive
11. Med (of the result of an examination or test) indicating the presence of a suspected condition or organism
Noun
1. something positive
2. Maths a quantity greater than zero
3. Photog a print showing an image whose colours and tones correspond to those of the original subject
4. Grammar the positive degree of an adjective or adverb
5. a positive object, such as a terminal in a cell [Late Latin positivus]
positively adv
positiveness
positivity n
positiveness
positivity n
| positive (pz-tv) 1. Greater than zero. 2. Having an electric charge or voltage greater than zero. 3. Indicating the presence of a disease, condition, or organism, as a diagnostic test. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | positive - the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution adjective - a word that expresses an attribute of something adverb - a word that modifies something other than a noun |
| 2. |  positive - a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subjectphotographic film, film - photographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsion; used to make negatives or transparencies lantern slide, slide - a transparency mounted in a frame; viewed with a slide projector | |
| Adj. | 1. | positive - characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.; "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand" affirmative, affirmatory - affirming or giving assent; "an affirmative decision"; "affirmative votes" constructive - constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development; "constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission" optimistic - expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds; "in an optimistic mood"; "optimistic plans"; "took an optimistic view" supportive - furnishing support or assistance; "a supportive family network"; "his family was supportive of his attempts to be a writer" negative - characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features; "a negative outlook on life"; "a colorless negative personality"; "a negative evaluation"; "a negative reaction to an advertising campaign" neutral - possessing no distinctive quality or characteristics |
| 2. | positive - persuaded of; very sure; "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win" | |
| 3. | positive - involving advantage or good; "a plus (or positive) factor" advantageous - giving an advantage; "a contract advantageous to our country"; "socially advantageous to entertain often" | |
| 4. | positive - indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen; "a positive pregnancy test" medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques disconfirming, negative - not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition; "the HIV test was negative" | |
| 5. | positive - formally laid down or imposed; "positive laws" formal - being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); "pay one's formal respects"; "formal dress"; "a formal ball"; "the requirement was only formal and often ignored"; "a formal education" | |
| 6. | positive - impossible to deny or disprove; "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument" undeniable - not possible to deny | |
| 7. | positive - of or relating to positivism; "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy" | |
| 8. | positive - reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion; "positive increase in graduating students" negative - reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive; "negative interest rates" | |
| 9. | positive - greater than zero; "positive numbers" math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement plus - on the positive side or higher end of a scale; "a plus value"; "temperature of plus 5 degrees"; "a grade of C plus" | |
| 10. | positive - having a positive charge; "protons are positive" charged - of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge; "charged particles"; "a charged battery" | |
| 11. | positive - marked by excessive confidence; "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets" confident - having or marked by confidence or assurance; "a confident speaker"; "a confident reply"; "his manner is more confident these days"; "confident of fulfillment" |
positive
adjective 1. beneficial, effective, useful, practical, helpful, progressive, productive, worthwhile, constructive, pragmatic, efficacious << OPPOSITE harmful
adjective 2. certain, sure, convinced, confident, satisfied, assured, free from doubt << OPPOSITE uncertain
adjective 3. definite, real, clear, firm, certain, direct, express, actual, absolute, concrete, decisive, explicit, affirmative, clear-cut, unmistakable, conclusive, unequivocal, indisputable, categorical, incontrovertible, nailed-on (slang) << OPPOSITE inconclusive
adjective 4. (Informal) absolute, complete, perfect, right Brit. (informal) real, total, rank, sheer, utter, thorough, downright, consummate, veritable, unqualified, out-and-out, unmitigated, thoroughgoing, unalloyed
Translations
positive [ˈpɔzɪtɪv] adj → positif/ive (= certain); sûr(e) → certain(e) (= definite); formel(le) → catégorique (= clear); indéniable, réel(le)
positive [ˈpɔzɪtɪv] adj → positivo/a (= certain); sicuro/a, certo/a (= definite); preciso/a; definitivo/a
adj positive [ˈpozətiv]
1 meaning or saying `yes' a positive answer; They tested the water for the bacteria and the result was positive (= the bacteria were present). positief إيجابي положителен souhlasný, kladný positiv positiv θετικός positivo, afirmativo jaatav مثبت myönteinen positif חִיוּבִי सकारात्मक pozitivan állító, pozitív positif jákvæður positivo 肯定の 긍정적인; 양성의 teigiamas pozitīvs; apstiprinošs positif positief bekreftende, positiv pozytywny positivo pozitiv утвердительный pozitívny, kladný pozitiven pozitivan positiv ซึ่งถูกต้อง olumlu 肯定的(答復) позитивний ہاں، مثبت جواب khẳng định; dương tính 肯定的（答复）
2 definite; leaving no doubt positive proof. positief, beslis باتٌّ، قاطِع категоричен jednoznačný afgørende unumstößlich σαφής, κατηγορηματικός definitivo, concluyente kindel قطعی ehdoton indéniable וַדָאִי निश्चित, स्पष्ट nedvojben feltétlen pasti öruggur sicuro れっきとした 명백한 aiškus noteikts; neapšaubāms pasti afdoend bestemt, uten tvil jednoznaczny positivo clar несомненный jednoznačný nedvoumen siguran säker แน่ใจ kesin 明確的 визначений, безсумнівний قطعي rõ ràng 明确的
3 certain or sure I'm positive he's right. seker مؤكَّد، مُتأكِّد сигурен jistý sikker på sicher σίγουρος, κατηγορηματικός seguro kindel مطمئن varma certain וַדָאִי निश्चयात्मक siguran biztos yakin öruggur, handviss sicuro 確かな 확신하는 tikras drošs; pārliecināts pasti zeker sikker przekonany seguro sigur уверенный istý prepričan siguran säker มั่นใจ, emin 確信的 упевнений پريقين chắc chắn 确信的
4 complete or absolute His work is a positive disgrace. absoluut تام، مَحْض пълен naprostý fuldkommen ausgesprochen απόλυτος, σκέτος completo, verdadero, absoluto täielik کامل؛ محض täydellinen vrai וַדָאִי निरपेक्ष jasan teljes mutlak algjör (vero e proprio), completo 全くの 완전한 visiškas pilnīgs; galīgs betul-betul absoluut rein, komplett całkowity completo adevărat абсолютный, законченный úplný popoln potpun riktig, ren สมบูรณ์ tam 完全的 абсолютний مطلق، مکمل hoàn toàn 完全的
5 optimistic and prepared to make plans for the future Take a more positive attitude to life. optimisties إيجابي، متفائِل оптимистичен kladný optimistisk; positiv positiv θετικός, αισιόδοξος positivo elujaatav خوش بینانه myönteinen positif אוֹפטִימִי सुनिश्वित uvjeren optimista positif jákvæður positivo 積極的な 건설적인, 적극적인 optimistiškas, pozityvus pozitīvs; optimistisks; konstruktīvs positif positief optimistisk optymistyczny positivo optimist позитивный kladný samozavesten pozitivan positiv ซึ่งมองในแง่ดี iyimser 積極的 позитивний رجائيت پسندانہ lạc quan 积极的
6 not showing any comparison; not comparative or superlative. onvergelykend إثْباتي، لا يَدُل على مُقارَنَه положителен pozitivní grundforms-; positiv- im Positiv stehen θετικός (γραμμ.) positivo algvõrdes مطلق positiivi- positif מְפוֹרָש वास्तविक nedvojben alap- (fok) positif jákvæður positivo 原級の ?형용사·부사가? 원급(原級)의 nelyginamasis pamata- positif stellend grunnforms-, positiv równy positivo pozitiv положительный pozitívny osnoven pozitiv absolut, utan jämförelse ไม่มากไปกว่า yalın 原級的 звичайний سادہ صفت جس ميں تفضيل کا صيغہ نہ ہو ở dạng nguyên 原级的
7 (of a number etc) greater than zero. positief أكْثَر من صِفْر положителен kladný positiv positiv θετικός (αριθμός) positivo positiivne مثبت positiivinen positif מִספָּר חִיוּבִי धनात्मक, धन pozitivno pozitív positif jákvæður, stærri en núll positivo プラスの 정(正)의 teigiamas pozitīvs (skaitlis) positif positief positiv dodatni positivo pozitiv положительный kladný pozitiven pozitivan broj positiv จำนวนมากกว่าศูนย์ sıfırdan büyük 數(正的) додатний صفر سے زيادہ số dương 数（正的）
8 having fewer electrons than normal In an electrical circuit, electrons flow to the positive terminal. positief موجَب، فيه الكترونات أكثر من العادي положителен kladný positiv positiv θετικά φορτισμένος positivo positiivne مثبت positiivinen positif מִטעָן חִיוּבִי पाजिटिव, सहिक pozitiv pozitív positif jákvæður, jákvætt hlaðinn positivo 陽の 양(陽)의 teigiamas pozitīvs positif positief positiv dodatni positivo pozitiv положительный kladný pozitiven pozitivan positiv มีจำนวนอิเล็คตรอนน้อยกว่าปกติ artı yüklü, pozitif (電)陽(正)的 позитивний معمول سے زيادہ اليکٹرون رکھنا có điện tích （电）阳（正）的
n
1 a photographic print, made from a negative, in which light and dark are as normal. positief, afdruk صورَة فوتوغرافِيَّه موجَبَه позитив pozitiv positiv das Positiv θετικό φωτογραφίας positivo positiiv عکس مثبت یا راست نما positiivi positif צִילוּם, פּוֹזִיטִיב सामान्य गुण fotografski pozitiv pozitív (fény)kép positif jákvæð mynd, ljósmynd/skyggna positiva 陽画 양화 pozityvas pozitīvs positif positief positiv pozytyw positivo pozitiv позитив pozitív pozitiv pozitiv positiv รูปภาพ pozitif (照相)正片 позитив مطبوعہ تصوير dương bản （照相）正片
2 (an adjective or adverb of) the positive (not comparative or superlative) degree. onvergelykend الصِّفَة الموجَبَه في غَيْر صيغة المقارنَه положителна степен první stupeň grundform; positiv der Positiv θετικός βαθμός (γραμμ.) positivo algvõrre صفت یا قید مطلق perusmuoto affirmatif דַרגַת הַפָּשוּט विशेषण का सामान्य रूप, वह प्राथमिक रूप जिसमें तुलना न दर्शायी गई हो nedvojben,jasan alapfok positif jákvætt stig grado positivo 原級 ?형용사·부사의? 원급(原級) nelyginamasis laipsnis pamatpakāpe positif stellende trap grunnform, positiv stopień równy positivo pozitiv положительная степень prvý stupeň osnovnik pozitiv positiv ขั้นปกติ yalın hâl 原級 звичайний ступінь صفت کا سادہ صيغہ ở dạng nguyên thể 原级
n positiveness
positiwiteit إيجابيَّه позитивност jistota det, som er positivt die Bestimmtheit θετικότητα certeza; cualidad de positivo positiivsus مثبت بودن؛ قطعیت positiivisuus certitude חִיוּבִיוּת निश्चियात्मक pozitivnost határozottság, biztonság keadaan positif jákvæðni positività; certezza 明確さ 긍정 pozityvumas pozitīvums positifnya het positief zijn det som bekrefter/er positivt pozytywność, pewność convicção caracter sigur; certitudine положительность istota pozitivnost pozitivnost företeelse som har positiv beskaffenhet การมองในแง่ดี kesinlik 明確，肯定，信心 позитивність اثبات sự rõ ràng 明确，肯定，信心
adv positively
1 in a positive way He stated positively that he was innocent. sonder skroom بِكُل تأكيد، بالإيجاب положително jednoznačně positivt bestimmt κατηγορηματικά categóricamente; positivamente; afirmativamente kindlalt قاطعانه vuorenvarmasti formellement בְּבִיטָחוֹן सकारात्मक रूप से pozitivno,nedvojbeno határozottan secara positif með jákvæðum hætti positivamente きっぱりと 단호히 tvirtai, aktyviai, teigiamai noteikti; apstiprinoši secara positif stellig positivt, uten tvil stanowczo positivamente (în mod) clar утвердительно; с уверенностью jednoznačne nedvoumno pozitivno uttryckligen, bestämt อย่างแง่บวก kesin olarak 積極地 з певністю; безсумнівно مثبت انداز ميں một cách quả quyết 积极地
2 absolutely; completely He is positively the nastiest person I know. ongetwyfeld بصورَةٍ مُطْلَقَه категорично naprosto, zcela jistě absolut sicher σίγουρα, απόλυτα con certeza; definitivamente tingimata قطعاً ehdottomasti assurément בְּווַדָאוּת वास्तविक रूप से potpuno,definitivno valóban jelas algjörlega certamente 全く 완전히 tikrai noteikti; neapšaubāmi betul-betul beslist absolutt, helt og holdent z pewnością, zdecydowanie positivamente (în mod) hotărât абсолютно, безусловно rozhodne gotovo aposlutno absolut, verkligen อย่างแน่นอน son derece 絕對地，完全地 рішуче, категорично قطعي طور پر tuyệt đối 绝对地，完全地
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