| 1. | serving to determine; determining. |
| 2. | something that determines. |
| 3. | a graphic symbol used in ideographic writing to denote a semantic class and written next to a word to indicate in what semantic category that word is to be understood, thus at times distinguishing homographs. |

de·ter·mi·na·tive (dĭ-tûr'mə-nā'tĭv, -nə-) adj. Tending, able, or serving to determine. See Synonyms at decisive. n. A determining factor. de·ter'mi·na'tive·ly adv., de·ter'mi·na'tive·ness n. |