derivative

[dih-riv-uh-tiv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR derivative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

derived.

not original; secondary.

noun

something that has been derived.

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

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

Also called differential quotient; especially British, differential coefficient. 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.Compare first derivative, second derivative.

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

Origin of derivative

1400–50; late Middle English derivatif < Late Latin dērīvātīvus, equivalent to Latin dērīvāt(us) (see derivation) + -īvus -ive

Related formsde·riv·a·tive·ly, adverbde·riv·a·tive·ness, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive, adjective, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverbun·de·riv·a·tive, adjectiveun·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for derivatives

Contemporary Examples of derivatives

“Junk,” we learn, refers to opium and its derivatives: morphine, heroin, pantopon, Dilaudid, codeine.
American Dreams, 1953: ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Nathaniel Rich
June 27, 2013
The opaque and complex market of derivatives was the single most important destabilizer leading up to 2008.
The Roots of the Next Financial Crisis: How Wall Street Undermines Reform
Lawrence Lessig
June 23, 2013
At every turn, he insisted on truly crazy ideas—like transparency about the derivatives traded, or trading on public exchanges.
The Roots of the Next Financial Crisis: How Wall Street Undermines Reform
Lawrence Lessig
June 23, 2013
That then forms the basis of multiple lending contracts, from derivatives to mortgage rates.
Don’t Just Blame Banks for Barclays Interest-Rates Mess
Zachary Karabell
July 12, 2012
It reaffirms that derivatives are inherently risky, and even the best-run banks—and JPMorgan is one of them—cannot avoid the risk.
Barney Frank on JPMorgan’s Contradictions, Mitt Romney’s Mistakes
Eleanor Clift
May 26, 2012

Historical Examples of derivatives

The loss would be a small one if we were to lose this word and its derivatives.
The Verbalist
Thomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)
Adjectives and other derivatives from these words are not capitalized.
Capitals
Frederick W. Hamilton
The English derivatives from these scientific words are not capitalized.
Capitals
Frederick W. Hamilton
Huchon we get Hutchin and its derivatives, and also Houchin.
The Romance of Names
Ernest Weekley
And remember: no chemist alive can synthesize opium or its derivatives.
Revenge
Arthur Porges

British Dictionary definitions for derivatives

derivative

adjective

resulting from derivation; derived

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

copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic

noun

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

a word derived from another word

chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compoundchloroform is a derivative of methane

maths

Also called: differential coefficient, first derivativethe 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 x n is nx n–1
the rate of change of one quantity with respect to anothervelocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time

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

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

Derived Formsderivatively, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for derivatives

derivative

early 15c. (adj.); mid-15c. (n.), from Middle French dérivatif (15c.), from Late Latin derivat-, past participle stem of Latin derivare (see derive). Mathematical sense is from 1670s.

Medicine definitions for derivatives

derivative

[dĭ-rĭv′ə-tĭv]

n.

Something obtained or produced by modification of something else.

A chemical compound that may be produced from another compound of similar structure in one or more steps.

adj.

Resulting from, characterized by, or employing derivation.

Science definitions for derivatives

derivative

[dĭ-rĭv′ə-tĭv]

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.

derivative

adjective

noun

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Origin of derivative

Examples from the Web for derivatives

Contemporary Examples of derivatives

Historical Examples of derivatives

derivative

adjective

noun

derivative

derivative

n.

adj.

derivative