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positive Definition

posi·tive (päz′ə tiv)

adjective

  1. formally or arbitrarily set; conventional; artificial a positive law
  2. definitely set; explicitly laid down; admitting of no question or modification; express; precise; specific positive instructions
    1. having the mind set or settled; confident; assured a positive person
    2. overconfident or dogmatic
  4. showing resolution or agreement; affirmative; certain a positive answer
  5. tending in the direction regarded as that of increase, progress, etc. clockwise motion is positive
  6. making a definite contribution; constructive positive criticism
  7. unrelated to anything else; independent of circumstances; absolute; unqualified
  8. that has, or is considered as having, real existence in itself, not just in the absence of other attributes a positive good
  9. based, or asserted as based, on reality or facts positive proof
  10. concerned only with real things and experience; empirical; practical
  11. Informal complete; absolute; out-and-out a positive fool
  12. Biol. directed toward the source of a stimulus positive tropism
  13. ☆ Elec.
    1. of, generating, or charged with positive electricity
    2. having a deficiency of electrons
  14. Gram.
    1. of an adjective or adverb in its simple, uninflected or unmodified form or degree; neither comparative nor superlative
    2. of this degree
  15. Math. designating a quantity greater than zero, or one to be added; plus
  16. Med. having or demonstrating, showing, or proving the presence or existence of a condition, an infection, symptoms, bacteria, etc. a patient who is positive for TB, a positive TB test
  17. Photog. with the light and shade corresponding to those of the subject

Etymology: ME positif < OFr < L positivus < positus: see position

noun

something positive, as a degree, quality, condition, etc.; specif.,

  1. Elec. a terminal, electrode, or plate that attracts a flow of electrons from a negative terminal, electrode, or plate, as in a storage battery or dry cell
  2. Gram. the positive degree; also, a word or form in this degree
  3. Math. a quantity greater than zero, or one to be added; plus quantity
  4. Photog. a photographic print, or a film for use in a projector, on which light and shadow correspond to what they were in the subject

positive Related Forms
pos′i·tively adverb pos′i·tive·ness noun
positive Synonyms

positive

modif.

  1. Definite

    decisive, actual, concrete; see definite 1, real 2.

  2. Emphatic

    peremptory, assertive, obstinate; see emphatic 1, resolute 2.

  3. Certain

    sure, convinced, confident; see accurate 1, certain 1, 3. See syn. study at sure.

positive Telecom Definition
  1. Something with the same charge (+) as a proton and opposite the negative (-) charge of an electron.
  2. Something with higher electric potential than the ground or a defined null or neutral point. Electrons flow from the positive point in a circuit. See also negative, null, and potential.
  3. Yes.
positive Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • minimize: By doing this, you help minimize false positives.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • do: Helping the planet The weeks provide participants with the chance to do something positive to help the planet.

Adjective modifier

  • false: By doing this, you help minimize false positives.

Modifies a noun

  • attitude: Trust in God is a positive attitude implicit with action.
  • feedback: Still, the press sent a very positive feedback.
  • impact: The video has already made a positive impact on lunchtimes.
  • contribution: In all, the volume is a very positive contribution.
  • outcome: They have also welcomed the positive outcome of the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
  • response: Highest levels of positive response occurred in the area of school culture.

Modifying Another Word

  • overwhelmingly: Mr Caulfield said: " The initial response was overwhelmingly positive.
  • extremely: The outcome of the advanced testing we have conducted has been extremely positive.
  • very: Still, the press sent a very positive feedback.
  • generally: In relation to the former report the Highland experience broadly matched the national findings which were generally positive.

Used with adjective complement

  • test: About 40 per cent of the rinsing water used for the toothbrushes in the test tested positive for the virus.
  • feel: Within a couple of months I did start to feel more positive.
  • remain: Some small schools do not measure up and there are many good large schools but the overall picture remains indisputably positive.
  • prove: Athletes will be subjected to urine and blood tests, both of which must prove positive before sanctions are threatened.
  • think: THINK POSITIVE... Instead of thinking up all the negative things associated with your job, try and turn them into positives.
  • become: However, the external environment is becoming more positive.

Preposition: in

  • outlook: The immigrant children seem more ambitious and positive in outlook.
positive Quotes

Alle Befriedigung, oder was man gemeinhin Glu«  ck nennt, ist eigentlich und wesentlich immer nur negativ und durchaus nie positiv. All satisfaction, or what iscommonlycalled happiness, is really and essentially always negative only, and never positive.

—Schopenhauer, Arthur

Positive, adj. Mistaken at the top of one's voice.

—Bierce, Ambrose Gwinett

What Chekhov saw in our failure to communicate was something positive and precious: the private silence in which we live, and which enables us to endure our own solitude.

—Pritchett, Sir V(ictor) S(awdon)