obsessive

  • 1obsessive — (adj.) formed 1911 from OBSESS (Cf. obsess) + IVE (Cf. ive). Related: Obsessively. Obsessive compulsive is attested from 1927 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 2obsessive — [əb ses′iv] adj. of, having the nature of, or causing an obsession or obsessions n. a person who has obsessive thoughts obsessively adv. obsessiveness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 3obsessive — index compelling, fanatical Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4obsessive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) obsessed with someone or something. 2) affecting the mind continually and disturbingly. DERIVATIVES obsessively adverb obsessiveness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 5obsessive — I UK [əbˈsesɪv] / US adjective caused by an obsession obsessive thoughts/concern/love/jealousy a) affected by an obsession He is the latest star to become the focus of obsessive fans. obsessive about: She is obsessive about her appearance. b)… …

    English dictionary

  • 6obsessive — ob|ses|sive1 [ əb sesıv ] adjective caused by an OBSESSION: obsessive thoughts/concern/love/jealousy a. affected by an OBSESSION: He is the latest star to become the focus of obsessive fans. obsessive about: She is obsessive about her appearance …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 7obsessive — [[t]əbse̱sɪv[/t]] obsessives 1) ADJ GRADED: oft ADJ about n If someone s behaviour is obsessive, they cannot stop doing a particular thing or behaving in a particular way. Williams is obsessive about motor racing... You were suffering from a… …

    English dictionary

  • 8obsessive — ob|ses|sive1 [əbˈsesıv] adj thinking or worrying about something all the time, so that you do not think about other things enough used to show disapproval ▪ an obsessive concern with cleanliness and order obsessive about (doing) sth ▪ I try to… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 9obsessive — 1 adjective an obsessive feeling, interest or attitude makes you think all the time about a particular thing or person: an obsessive need for excitement | She s becoming obsessive about hygiene. obsessively adverb 2 noun (C) technical someone… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10obsessive — ob·ses·sive äb ses iv, əb adj of, relating to, causing, or characterized by obsession: deriving from obsession <obsessive behavior> ob·ses·sive·ly adv ob·ses·sive·ness n obsessive n an obsessive individual …

    Medical dictionary