derivative

[ dih-riv-uh-tiv ]

/ dɪˈrɪv ə tɪv /

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See synonyms for: derivative / derivatives 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.

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Sometimes der·i·vate

[der-uh-veyt] /ˈdɛr əˌveɪt/ .

Origin of derivative

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

OTHER WORDS FROM derivative

de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverbde·riv·a·tive·ness, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive, adjective, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb

un·de·riv·a·tive, adjectiveun·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use derivative in a sentence

“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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Forget about trading, structured products, and exotic derivatives.
Goldman & JP Are Still Tops—But Dimon Takes a Pay Cut|Matthew Zeitlin|January 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST

And in its attempts to meet those obligations, it also bought complicated derivatives sold to it by banks.
Don’t Just Blame Banks for Barclays Interest-Rates Mess|Zachary Karabell|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Its similarity with the numerous derivatives of the verb damno have probably obscured the true derivation of the word.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
It threatens his whole doctrine of compact, and its darling derivatives, nullification and secession, with instant confutation.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster|Daniel Webster
The influence of position of an alkyl in the aromatic bodies is well shown in ortho-, para- and meta-derivatives.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
Most of the ladys riddles are found in an old English song, and its traditional derivatives.
Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth|Frank Sidgwick
“Red” in such languages is merely a derivative “being red,” as our “sleeping” or “walking” are derivatives of primary verbs.
Language|Edward Sapir

British Dictionary definitions for derivative

derivative

/ (dɪˈrɪvətɪv) /

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 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 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 forms of derivative

derivatively, 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

Scientific definitions for derivative

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

Origin of derivative

OTHER WORDS FROM derivative

Words related to derivative

How to use derivative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for derivative

Derived forms of derivative

Scientific definitions for derivative