ˈneɡətɪv adj., n. & v. --adj. 1 expressing or implying
denial,
prohibition, or
refusal (a negative
vote; a negative answer). 2 (of a
person or attitude): a
lacking positive attributes;
apathetic; pessimistic. b opposing or resisting;
uncooperative. 3
marked by
the absence of qualities (a negative
reaction; a negative
result from the test). 4 of the
opposite nature to a
thing regarded as positive (debt is negative capital). 5
Algebra (of a quantity)
less than zero, to be subtracted from others or from zero (opp. POSITIVE). 6 Electr. a of the kind of
charge carried by electrons (opp. POSITIVE). b containing or producing
such a charge. --n. 1 a negative
statement,
reply, or
word (hard to
prove a negative). 2 Photog. a an
image with black and white reversed or colours replaced by
complementary ones, from
which positive pictures are obtained. b a developed
film or
plate bearing such an image. 3 a negative
quality; an absence of
something. 4 (prec. by the) a
position opposing the
affirmative. 5
Logic =
NEGATION 6. --v.tr. 1 refuse to
accept or
countenance;
veto;
reject. 2
disprove (an
inference or hypothesis). 3
contradict (a statement). 4
neutralize (an effect). øin the negative with negative
effect; so as to reject a
proposal etc.; no (the
answer was in the negative). negative
evidence (or instance) evidence of the non-occurrence of something. negative
feedback 1 the
return of
part of an
output signal to the
input, tending to
decrease the amplification etc. 2 feedback
that tends to
diminish or
counteract the process giving
rise to
it. negative
geotropism see GEOTROPISM. negative
income tax an
amount credited as
allowance to a taxed income, and
paid as
benefit when it exceeds debited tax. negative
pole the south-seeking pole of a
magnet. negative
proposition Logic = NEGATION 6. negative
quantity joc.
nothing. negative
sign a
symbol (-) indicating subtraction or a
value less than zero. negative
virtue abstention from vice. øønegatively adv. negativeness n. negativity n. [ME f. OF negatif
-ive or LL negativus (as NEGATE)]