positive definite

American  

adjective

Mathematics.

1. (of a quadratic form) positive for all real values of the variables, where the values are not all zero.

2. (of a matrix) displaying the coefficients of a positive definite quadratic form.

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Other Word Forms

• positive definiteness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of positive definite

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

“You mean that it has come as a positive definite occurrence, with a name and a date?”

From The Beast in the Jungle by James, Henry

They imply a confession of lack of such wisdom as would enable me to make positive definite proposals.

From China, Japan and the U.S.A. Present-Day Conditions in the Far East and Their Bearing on the Washington Conference by Dewey, John

Nearly at the same time an important change passed over her religious views, and the vague deism of her youth deepened into a positive, definite, and earnest Christianity, but without mysticism and without intolerance.

From Historical and Political Essays by Lecky, William Edward Hartpole

Anything positive, definite, susceptible of proof, no matter how distressing, would be more tolerable than this suspense, this maddening conjecture.

From Infelice by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)

There ought to be some very quick, positive, definite answer.

From Unborn Tomorrow by Freas, Kelly