Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Definite \Def"i*nite\, a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf.
F. d['e]fini. 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}.
Source : WordNet®
law of definite proportions
n : (chemistry) law stating that every pure substance always
contains the same elements combined in the same
proportions by weight [syn: {law of constant proportion}]