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

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Etymology

Origin of positive definite

First recorded in 1905–10

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

positive definite

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

From Infelice by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans

And as these biological facts, scanty, indefinite, rudimentary, though they are, aid him so essentially; judge what must be the value to him of such facts when they become positive, definite, and exhaustive.

From Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects Everyman's Library by Herbert Spencer

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 John Dewey

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

From Unborn Tomorrow by Kelly Freas

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 William Edward Hartpole Lecky

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