Definition of: positive

(poz′ə·tiv) adjective
1. That is or may be directly affirmed; real; actual; existing: opposed to negative.
2. Inherent in a thing by and of itself, regardless of its relations to other things; absolute: opposed to relative.
3. Openly and plainly expressed; explicit; express; emphatic: opposed to implied or inferred: a positive denial.
4. Imperative: opposed to discretionary.
5. Dependent on authority, agreement, or convention: opposed to natural: positive law.
6. Not admitting of doubt or denial; incontestable: positive proof.
7. Free from doubt or hesitation; confident; certain; also, overconfident; dictatorial.
8. Philos. Pertaining to positivism (def. 2).
9. Noting one of two opposite directions, qualities, properties, etc., which is taken as primary, or as indicating increase or progression.
10. Math. Greater than zero; plus: said of quantities.
11. Electr. Having a relatively high potential: the positive electrode of a cell; specifically, designating the kind of electricity exhibited by a glass object when rubbed with silk.
12. Physics Having a deficiency of electrons: said of atoms which yield electrons.
13. Biol. Noting the response of an organism toward a stimulus: a positive tropism.
14. Bacteriol. Noting the presence of a specified condition or organism: a positive bacterial culture.
15. Mech. Operated by mechanical power, not by springs or gravity; operated or communicating power through intermediate inelastic parts that are under exact control.
16. Noting the north–seeking pole of a magnet and the corresponding (south) pole of the earth.
17. Phot. Having the lights and shades in their natural relation, as in a photograph.
18. Gram. Denoting the simple, uncompared degree of the adjective or adverb. See synonyms under DOGMATIC, RADICAL, SURE.
—noun
1. That which is capable of being directly and certainly affirmed.
2. Philos. In positivism, that which is cognizable by the senses.
3. Phot. A picture giving the lights and shades as in nature; a print from a negative.
4. Gram. The positive degree of an adjective or adverb; also, a word in this degree, as good, glad.
5. Electr. A positive plate, pole, etc. See synonyms under CERTAINTY. [<OF, fem. of positif <L positivus <positus. See POSITION.]
—pos′i·tive·ly adverb
—pos′i·tive·ness noun