from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Electro-negative \E*lec`tro-neg"a*tive\, Electronegative
\E*lec`tro*neg"a*tive\, a. (Chem. & Physics)
1. Having the property of being attracted by an
electro-positive body, or a tendency to pass to the
positive pole in electrolysis, by the law that opposite
electricities attract each other. Contrasted with
{neutral} and {electropositive}
[1913 Webster]
2. Negative; nonmetallic; acidic; -- opposed to {positive},
{metallic}, or {basic}.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Physics) carrying a negative electrical charge.
[PJC]
4. (Chem. and Physics) having a tendency to take up electrons
and form negative ions; having a relatively positive
electrode potential.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]