Qualitative

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Qualitative \Qual"i*ta*tive\, a. [Cf. LL. gualitativus, F.
     qualitatif.]
     Relating to quality; having the character of quality. --
     {Qual"i*ta*tive*ly}, adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Qualitative analysis} (Chem.), analysis which merely
        determines the constituents of a substance without any
        regard to the quantity of each ingredient; -- contrasted
        with quantitative analysis.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Analysis \A*nal"y*sis\, n.; pl. {Analyses}. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to
     unloose, to dissolve, to resolve into its elements; ? up + ?
     to loose. See {Loose}.]
     1. A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses
        or of the intellect, into its constituent or original
        elements; an examination of the component parts of a
        subject, each separately, as the words which compose a
        sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions
        which enter into an argument. It is opposed to
        {synthesis}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) The separation of a compound substance, by
        chemical processes, into its constituents, with a view to
        ascertain either (a) what elements it contains, or (b) how
        much of each element is present. The former is called
        {qualitative}, and the latter {quantitative analysis}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Logic) The tracing of things to their source, and the
        resolving of knowledge into its original principles.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Math.) The resolving of problems by reducing the
        conditions that are in them to equations.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5.
        (a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a
            discourse, disposed in their natural order.
        (b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of
            a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with
            synopsis.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Nat. Hist.) The process of ascertaining the name of a
        species, or its place in a system of classification, by
        means of an analytical table or key.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Ultimate}, {Proximate}, {Qualitative}, {Quantitative}, and
     {Volumetric analysis}. (Chem.) See under {Ultimate},
        {Proximate}, {Qualitative}, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  qualitative
       adj 1: involving distinctions based on qualities; "qualitative
              change"; "qualitative data"; "qualitative analysis
              determines the chemical constituents of a substance or
              mixture" [ant: {quantitative}]
       2: relating to or involving comparisons based on qualities