[ˈpɒzɪtɪv], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- consisting in or characterized by the presence rather than the absence of distinguishing features

- constructive, optimistic, or confident
(e.g: there needs to be a positive approach to young offenders)

- with no possibility of doubt; definite
(e.g: he made a positive identification of a glossy ibis)

- (of a quantity) greater than zero

- containing, producing, or denoting an electric charge opposite to that carried by electrons
(e.g: each battery has a positive and negative terminal)

- (of a photographic image) showing lights and shades or colours true to the original

- denoting the primary degree of an adjective or adverb, which expresses simple quality without qualification

- dealing only with matters of fact and experience; not speculative or theoretical

- relating to or denoting any of the air or fire signs, considered active in nature


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit- ‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’

[ˈpɒzɪtɪv], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a desirable or constructive quality or attribute
(e.g: take your weaknesses and translate them into positives)

- a positive photographic image, especially one printed from a negative
(e.g: the photographic process involves separate runs with the red, green, and blue separation positives)

- a result of a test or experiment indicating that a certain substance or condition is present or exists
(e.g: let us look at the distribution of those positives)

- the part of an electric circuit that is at a higher electrical potential than another point designated as having zero electrical potential
(e.g: try linking the signal input directly to positive)

- a number greater than zero

- an adjective or adverb in the positive degree


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit- ‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’