Def"i*nite , n. A thing defined or determined.
[Obs.]
Def"i*nite (?), a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define.]
1. Having certain or distinct; determinate
in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions;
a definite measure; a definite period or interval.
Elements combine in definite
proportions.
Whewell. 2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression.
3.
Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Serving to define or
restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article.
Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - - Definite
inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under
Determinate. -- Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple.
Hear it pronounced