negative

1. Not affirmative; refutative; not positive; not abnormal. 2. Denoting failure of response, absence of a reaction, or absence of an entity or condition in question. [L. negativus, fr. nego, to deny]

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neg·a·tive 'neg-ət-iv adj

1) marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal <received a \negative answer>

2) marked by features (as hostility, withdrawal, or pessimism) that hinder or oppose constructive treatment or development <a \negative outlook>

3 a) being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the electron is the elementary unit

b) having more electrons than protons <\negative ions>

c ) (1) having lower electrical potential and constituting the part toward which the current flows from the external circuit <the \negative pole> (2) being the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube

4 a) not affirming the presence of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present also having a test result indicating the absence esp. of a condition, substance, or organism <she is HIV \negative>

b) directed or moving away from a source of stimulation <\negative tropism>

5) having the light and dark parts in approximately inverse relation to those of the original photographic subject

neg·a·tive·ly adv

negative n

1) a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures also the material that carries such an image

2) a negative result (as of a test) also a test yielding such a result

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neg·a·tive (negґə-tiv) [L. negativus] 1. having a value less than zero. 2. indicating absence, as of a condition or organism. 3. characterized by refusal, denial, resistance, or opposition.