electronegative

a. (Chem. & Physics) 1. Having the property of being attracted by an electro-positive body, or a tendency to pass to the positive pole in electrolysis, by the law that opposite electricities attract each other. Contrasted with neutral and electropositive [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Negative; nonmetallic; acidic; -- opposed to positive, metallic, or basic. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physics) carrying a negative electrical charge. [ PJC ]

4. (Chem. and Physics) having a tendency to take up electrons and form negative ions; having a relatively positive electrode potential. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]