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| pos·i·tive [ pózzətiv ] |
adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. sure: certain and not in doubt
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2. law irrefutable: conclusive and beyond doubt or question
 positive identification of the suspect
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3. optimistic: confident, optimistic, and focusing on good things rather than bad
 a positive attitude about work
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4. beneficial: producing good results because of having an innately beneficial character
 a very positive experience
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5. encouraging good behavior: encouraging behavior, especially in the young, that is considered morally good
 a positive role model
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6. affirmative: indicating agreement or affirmation
 positive feedback
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7. adds emphasis: used to emphasize the degree to which something is true, striking, or impressive
(
informal
)
 Hiring her is a positive triumph for the department.
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8. science mathematics quantifiable: capable of being measured, detected, or perceived
 a positive correlation between investment in telecommunications and economic development
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9. medicine indicating presence of something: indicating the presence of a particular organism or component in the results of a test or examination
 a positive test for diabetes
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10. medicine Same as Rh positive
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11. mathematics more than zero: having a value higher than zero. Symbol +
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12. not negative: measured in a direction or designated as a quantity equal in magnitude, but opposite to that regarded as negative
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13. physics with electrical charge like proton: having an electrical charge of an opposite polarity to that of an electron and the same polarity as that of a proton
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14. physics with positive charge: having an overall positive electrical charge, sometimes caused by the loss of one or more electrons
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15. physics with higher electrical potential: having a higher electrical potential than the ground or the defined neutral point
 a positive electrode
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16. electricity Same as electropositive (sense 1)
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17. photog like subject: describes photographic images that have colors or values of dark and light corresponding to the subject
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18. optics making light converge: making a parallel beam of light converge
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19. grammar not comparative or superlative: relating to the basic form of an adjective or adverb, and not to its comparative or superlative forms
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20. philosophy empirical: relating to the theory that knowledge can be acquired only through direct observation and experimentation, and not through metaphysics or theology
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21. biology showing response: indicating growth, response, or movement toward a stimulus such as light
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22. engineering with no slack: describes a mechanical action or device having little or no play
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23. astrology of zodiac signs: relating to the air or fire signs of the zodiac
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noun (plural pos·i·tives) |
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| Definition: |
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1. positive thing: something that shows agreement, support, or affirmation
(
informal
)
 Not a bad situation when we weigh all the positives.
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2. mathematics something greater than zero: a value or number higher than zero
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3. photog image like subject: a photographic image in which the light and dark tones and colors correspond to those of the original subject
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4. electricity something with positive charge: something that carries a positive electrical charge
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5. electricity cell plate or terminal: a positively charged plate or terminal in a cell
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6. grammar basic form of modifier: an adjective or adverb in its basic form, and not in the comparative or superlative
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7. music medieval organ: a small medieval organ with just one manual and no pedals
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8. music Another spelling of positif
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| [14th century. Via French< Latin positivus< posit- (see position)] |
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