QUALITATIVE

qualitative

(adjective) involving distinctions based on qualities; “qualitative change”; “qualitative data”; “qualitative analysis determines the chemical constituents of a substance or mixture”

qualitative

(adjective) relating to or involving comparisons based on qualities

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

qualitative (comparative more qualitative, superlative most qualitative)

Of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity.

(chemistry) Of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound.

Noun

qualitative (plural qualitatives)

Something qualitative.

Source: Wiktionary

Qual"i*ta*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. gualitativus, F. qualitatif.]

Definition: Relating to quality; having the character of quality.

– Qual"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. Qualitative analysis (Chem.), analysis which merely determines the constituents of a substance without any regard to the quantity of each ingredient; -- contrasted with quantitative analysis.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition