An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) General: Expressing, containing, or consisting of a negation, refusal, or denial.
2) Math.: Of or relating to a quantity less than zero. Of or relating to the sign (-).
3) Physics: Of or relating to an electric charge of the same sign as that of an electron.
4) Photography: Having dark for light and light for dark.
5) Opposite of → positive.
See also:
→ negative charge, → negative correlation, → negative crystal, → negative feedback, → negative lens, → negative number, → negative polarization, → negative pressure, → negative skewness.

From O.Fr. negatif (fem. negative), from L. negativus, "denying, inhibiting (legal actions); denied/refused; negative," from negare "to refuse, say 'no'" from Old L. nec "not", from Italic base *nek- "not," from PIE base *ne- "no, not."

Nâyidâr, from nâyidan, → negate, on the model of xaridâr, foruxtâr, xâstâr, virâstâr, etc.

An electric charge that has the same sign as the electron.

→ negative; → charge.

A correlation between two variables such that as one variable's values tend to increase, the other variable's values tend to decrease.

→ negative; → correlation.

A uniaxial, birefringent crystal in which the velocity of the extraordinary ray surpasses that of the ordinary ray.

→ negative; → crystal.

A → feedback process in which the → output reacts on the → input so as to reduce the initial → effect.

→ negative; → feedback.

Same as → divergent lens.

→ negative; → lens.

A → real number that is less than zero. A negative number is indicated by the → minus sign.

→ negative; → number.

A type of polarization in which the direction of polarization becomes reversed.

→ negative; → polarization.

A kind of pressure that contrarily to ordinary pressure pushes inward. In contrast with the → Newtonian mechanics, in → general relativity there are situations in which pressure can be negative. Positive pressure gives rise to attractive gravity, whereas negative pressure creates → repulsive gravity.

→ negative; → pressure.

Of a distribution function, a skewness in which the left tail (tail at small end of the distribution) is more pronounced that the right tail (tail at the large end of the distribution). → positive skewness.

→ negative; → skewness.