/ ˈnegətɪv; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
BAD
1.
bad or harmful :
The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
The whole experience was definitely more positive than negative.
OPP positive
NOT HOPEFUL
2.
considering only the bad side of sth/sb; lacking enthusiasm or hope :
Scientists have a fairly negative attitude to the theory.
'He probably won't show up.' 'Don't be so negative.'
OPP positive
NO
3.
expressing the answer 'no' :
His response was negative.
They received a negative reply.
OPP affirmative
GRAMMAR
4.
containing a word such as 'no', 'not', 'never', etc. :
a negative form / sentence
SCIENTIFIC TEST
5.
( abbr. neg. ) not showing any evidence of a particular substance or medical condition :
Her pregnancy test was negative.
OPP positive
ELECTRICITY
6.
( technical ) containing or producing the type of electricity that is carried by an electron :
a negative charge / current
the negative terminal of a battery
OPP positive
NUMBER / QUANTITY
7.
less than zero :
a negative trade balance
OPP positive
► nega·tive·ly adverb :
to react negatively to stress
to respond negatively
negatively charged electrons
■ noun
NO
1.
a word or statement that means 'no'; a refusal or denial :
( formal )
She answered in the negative (= said 'no') .
OPP affirmative
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
2.
a developed film showing the dark areas of an actual scene as light and the light areas as dark
—compare positive
IN SCIENTIFIC TEST
3.
the result of a test or an experiment that shows that a substance or condition is not present :
The percentage of false negatives generated by the cancer test is of great concern.
OPP positive
■ verb [ vn ] ( formal )
1.
to refuse to agree to a proposal or a request
2.
to prove that sth is not true
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from late Latin negativus , from negare deny.