derivative

American  

[dih-riv-uh-tiv] / dɪˈrɪv ə tɪv /

Sometimes derivate

adjective

1. derived.

2. not original; secondary.

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noun

1. something that has been derived.

2. Also called derived form.  Grammar. a form that has undergone derivation from another, as atomic from atom.

3. Chemistry. a substance or compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another substance or compound.

4. especially British, differential coefficient.  Also called differential quotient.  Mathematics. the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function to the increment of a variable in it, as the latter tends to 0; the instantaneous change of one quantity with respect to another, as velocity, which is the instantaneous change of distance with respect to time.

5. a financial contract whose value derives from the value of underlying stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc.

derivative British  

/ dɪˈrɪvətɪv /

adjective

1. resulting from derivation; derived

2. based on or making use of other sources; not original or primary

3. copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic

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noun

1. a term, idea, etc, that is based on or derived from another in the same class

2. a word derived from another word

3. chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compound

   chloroform is a derivative of methane

4. maths

   1. Also called: differential coefficient.   first derivative.  the change of a function, f( x ), with respect to an infinitesimally small change in the independent variable, x ; the limit of [f( a + Δ x )–f( a )] / Δ x , at x = a , as the increment, Δ x , tends to 0. Symbols: df( x )/d x , f′( x ), Df( x )

      the derivative of xn is nxn–1

   2. the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another

      velocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time

5. finance a financial instrument, such as a futures contract or option, the price of which is largely determined by the commodity, currency, share price, interest rate, etc, to which it is linked

6. psychoanal an activity that represents the expression of hidden impulses and desires by channelling them into socially acceptable forms

derivative Scientific  

/ dĭ-rĭv′ə-tĭv /

1. In calculus, the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a particular point on the curve. Since a curve represents a function, its derivative can also be thought of as the rate of change of the corresponding function at the given point. Derivatives are computed using differentiation.

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Other Word Forms

• derivatively adverb
• derivativeness noun
• nonderivative adjective
• nonderivatively adverb
• underivative adjective
• underivatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of derivative

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English derivatif, from Late Latin dērīvātīvus, equivalent to Latin dērīvāt(us) ( derivation ) + -īvus suffix; -ive

Example Sentences

Gen AI, in particular, will move from a co-pilot to an operating system for finance — engaging with stocks, fixed income, derivatives and other assets.

From MarketWatch

Krystal Hur is a reporter in New York, where she covers Berkshire Hathaway, derivatives and market structure for the Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Actively managed ETFs, which pick stocks and bonds, or offer some kind of derivative strategy, made up a tiny slice of the total market three years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

Selig is a longtime derivatives lawyer who took an interest in cryptocurrency early in his career, building an expertise and a list of clients amid the industry’s tumultuous rise.

From The Wall Street Journal

That flow of institutional money into bitcoin ETFs and other derivative products changed the crypto market.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• by-product