Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Serving to define or identify as distinct from others.
  • adjective Supplying or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive: synonym: decisive.
  • adjective Authoritative and complete.
  • adjective Mass produced in indefinite quantities over an indefinite period of time. Used of postage stamps.
  • adjective Biology Fully formed or developed, as an organ or structure.
  • noun Grammar A word that defines or limits, such as the definite article or a demonstrative pronoun.
  • noun A definitive postage stamp.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make definite.
  • Limiting the extent; determinate; positive; express: as, a definitive term.
  • Ending; determining; final; conclusive: opposed to conditional, provisional, or interlocutory.
  • Specifically— In biology, completely formed; fixed and finished: opposed to primitive or formative: as, the definitive aorta; a definitive anus.
  • In logic, applied to a judgment which is accompanied by a full assent of the mind.
  • In metaphysics, having position without occupying space.
  • noun In grammar, a defining or limiting word, as an article, a demonstrative, or the like.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.
  • adjective Limiting; determining.
  • adjective obsolete Determined; resolved.
  • noun (Gram.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective explicitly defined
  • adjective conclusive or decisive
  • adjective definite, authoritative and complete
  • adjective philately general, not issued for commemorative purposes
  • noun grammar a word, such as a definite article or demonstrative pronoun, that defines or limits something
  • noun philately an ordinary postage stamp that is part of a series of all denominations or is reprinted as needed to meet demand

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective clearly defined or formulated
  • adjective of recognized authority or excellence
  • adjective supplying or being a final or conclusive settlement

Etymologies

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Examples

  • If a disarmament and the group's dissolution were fully implemented, ETA's move—which it referred to as a "definitive" halt to armed activity, rather than a cease-fire—would represent a milestone in Spanish history.

    Basque Separatists Vow Again to End Violence David Román 2011

  • Dr Patricio Bustos, who directs Chile's Medical Legal Service, announced the autopsy results, which he described as definitive.

    Chilean President Salvador Allende committed suicide, autopsy confirms 2011

  • WELNA: Holbrooke told Luger he would go from the hearing back to Afghanistan, where he said he did not yet see what he called a definitive turning point in either direction.

    Senators Express Doubts On Afghan War 2010

  • FEYERICK (on camera): The Commission hopes to provide what it calls the definitive account of 9/11 and ways to save even more lives if a terror attack should happen again.

    CNN Transcript May 18, 2004 2004

  • Dr. Patricio Bustos, who directs Chile's Medical Legal Service, announced the autopsy results, which he described as definitive.

    chron.com Chronicle 2011

  • Dr. Patricio Bustos, who directs Chile's Medical Legal Service, announced the autopsy results, which he described as definitive.

    Breaking News: CBS News 2011

  • Dr. Patricio Bustos, who directs Chile's Medical Legal Service, announced the autopsy results, which he described as definitive.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Eva Vergara 2011

  • Feast features a scoring system that brings together a wide range of reviews, ratings and opinions and produces what it calls a definitive score known as the Feast Rank.

    C - Advertising News 2010

  • Obama laid out for forging what he termed the definitive partnership of the 21st century.

    KansasCity.com: Front Page 2010

  • Obama laid out for forging what he termed the definitive partnership of the 21st century.

    KansasCity.com: Front Page 2010

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