negative

adjective

containing, expressing, or implying a denial or refusal; that says “no”: a negative reply
opposite to something regarded as positive; specif.,
1. lacking in positive character or quality
2. lacking evidence, affirmation, etc.
3. having the effect of diminishing, depriving, or denying
4. faultfinding, antagonistic, destructive, etc.: negative criticism, a negative political campaign
Biol. directed away from the source of a stimulus: negative tropism
☆ Elec.
1. of, generating, or charged with negative electricity
2. having an excess of electrons
Logic denying something about a subject: “no reptiles are warmblooded” is a negative proposition
Math. designating a quantity less than zero, or one to be subtracted; minus quantity
Med. not having or not demonstrating, showing, or proving the presence or existence of a condition, infection, symptoms, bacteria, etc.: a patient who is negative for TB; the X-rays were negative
Photog. reversing the relation of light and shade of the subject

adverb, interjection

no; not so: so used in radio communication

noun

a word, affix, phrase, etc. that denies, rejects, or refuses (Ex.: no, not, by no means)
a statement of denial, refusal, or rejection
the point of view that denies or attacks the positive or affirmative: the negative won the debate
an undesirable element or quality; drawback, shortcoming, defect, etc.
an impression of something, as a sculpture, that shows it in reverse
Obsolete the right of veto
Elec. a terminal, electrode, or plate having an excess of electrons flowing out toward a positive terminal, electrode, or plate, as in a storage battery or dry cell
Math. a quantity less than zero, or one to be subtracted; minus quantity
Photog. an exposed and developed photographic film or plate on which light and shadow are the reverse of what they are in the positive printed from this

interjection

no!not so!

Related Forms:

See negative in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(nĕgˈə-tĭv)

adjective

a. Expressing, containing, or consisting of a negation, refusal, or denial: gave a negative answer to our request.
b. Indicating opposition or resistance: a negative reaction to the new advertising campaign.
Lacking positive or constructive features, especially:
a. Unpleasant; disagreeable: had a negative experience on his first job.
b. Gloomy; pessimistic: a negative outlook.
c. Unfavorable or detrimental: a negative review; a negative effect on the child's development.
d. Hostile or disparaging; malicious: ran a negative campaign against her opponent.
Medicine Not indicating the presence of a particular disease, condition, or organism.
Logic Designating a proposition that denies agreement between a subject and its predicate.
Mathematics
a. Of or relating to a quantity less than zero.
b. Of or relating to the sign (-).
c. Of or relating to a quantity to be subtracted from another.
d. Of or relating to a quantity, number, angle, velocity, or direction in a sense opposite to another of the same magnitude indicated or understood to be positive.
Physics
a. Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron, indicated by the symbol (-).
b. Of or relating to a body having an excess of electrons.
Chemistry Of or relating to an ion, the anion, that is attracted to a positive electrode.
Biology Moving or turning away from a stimulus, such as light: a negative tropism.

noun

A statement or act indicating or expressing a contradiction, denial, or refusal.
a. A statement or act that is highly critical of another or of others: campaign advertising that was based solely on negatives.
b. Something that lacks all positive, affirmative, or encouraging features; an element that is the counterpoint of the positive: “Life is full of overwhelming odds. You can't really eliminate the negatives but you can diminish them” (Art Linkletter).
c. A feature or characteristic that is not deemed positive, affirmative, or desirable: “As voters get to know his liberal views, his negatives will rise” (Richard M. Nixon).
Grammar A word or part of a word, such as no, not, or non-, that indicates negation. See Usage Note at double negative.
The side in a debate that contradicts or opposes the question being debated.
a. An image in which the light areas of the object rendered appear dark and the dark areas appear light.
b. A film, plate, or other photographic material containing such an image.
Mathematics A negative quantity.