DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Def·i·nite a.
 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.]
 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.

 definite article
      n : a determiner (as `the' in English) that indicates
          specificity of reference