Main Entry:

¹pas·sive

Pronunciation:

\ˈpa-siv\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin passivus, from passus, past participle

Date:

14th century

1 a (1): acted upon by an external agency (2): receptive to outside impressions or influences b (1): asserting that the grammatical subject of a verb is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb <the passive voice> (2): containing or yielding a passive verb form c (1): lacking in energy or will : lethargic (2): tending not to take an active or dominant part d: induced by an outside agency <passive exercise of a paralyzed leg>2 a: not active or operating : inert b: of, relating to, or making direct use of the sun's heat usually without the intervention of mechanical devices <a passive solar house> c: latent d (1): of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity ; especially : resistant to corrosion (2): not involving expenditure of chemical energy <passive transport across a cell membrane> eof an electronic element : exhibiting no gain or control f: relating to the detection of an object through its emission of energy or sound <passive sonar>3 a: receiving or enduring without resistance : submissive b: existing or occurring without being active, open, or direct <passive support>4: of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not actively participate in the generation of income

synonyms see inactive

— pas·sive·ly adverb

— pas·sive·ness noun

— pas·siv·i·ty \pa-ˈsi-və-tē\ noun