- negative
- negative neg‧a‧tive [ˈnegətɪv] adjective1. bad or harmful:
• The Bank's refusal to cut interest rates is having a negative effect on the economy.
2. saying or meaning `no':• a negative response
3. considering only the bad qualities of a situation, person etc and not the good ones:negative about• Stock analysts are growing increasingly negative about general insurance stocks.
4. less than zero:• The difference between a positive growth rate of 0.5% and a negative rate of 0.5% is so small the average businessman would be unlikely to feel it.
— negatively adverb :• Financial markets reacted negatively to the Fed's announcement.
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Ⅰ.negative UK US /ˈnegətɪv/ adjective► bad or harmful: »Its profits rose as higher sales and cost cuts offset the negative impact of lower prices.
have a negative effect on sth »This trade could eventually have a negative effect on the economy and prices.
»Recognizing the costly effects of negative publicity, the company began to study the environmental impacts of its products.
»negative aspects/consequences
► expressing 'no': »a negative answer/response
► emphasizing the bad possibilities in a situation: be negative about sth »Small and medium-size businesses were more negative about the economy than last year.
»negative attitudes/comments/reactions
► less than zero: »Employment growth was negative for manufacturing over the past year.
»Medical bills strained the budget, and before long their checking account had a negative balance.
Ⅱ.negative UK US /ˈnegətɪv/ noun► [C] a bad characteristic, piece of news, etc.: »Traders see few negatives, saying hi-tech and telecoms shares will continue their rise.
Financial and business terms. 2012.