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Synonyms

derive

American  
[dih-rahyv] / dɪˈraɪv /

verb (used with object)

derived, deriving
  1. to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed byfrom ).

    Synonyms:
    net, reap, gather, glean, attain, gain
  2. to trace from a source or origin.

    English words derived from German.

  3. to reach or obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer.

  4. Chemistry. to produce or obtain (a substance) from another.

  5. Grammar. to create (a new linguistic form) by adding affixes to or changing the shape of a root or base.

    The word “runner” is derived from “run.”


verb (used without object)

derived, deriving
  1. to come from a source or origin; originate (often followed byfrom ).

derive British  
/ dɪˈraɪv /

verb

  1. (usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced

  2. (tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer

  3. (tr) to trace the source or development of

  4. (usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction

  5. maths to obtain (a function) by differentiation

"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

Other Word Forms

  • derivable adjective
  • deriver noun
  • nonderivable adjective
  • prederive verb (used with object)
  • underivable adjective

Etymology

Origin of derive

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diriven, deriven “to flow, draw from, spring,” from Anglo-French, Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvāre “to lead off,” equivalent to dē- de- + rīv(us) “a stream” + -āre infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kelly noted that Western Digital now derives nearly 90% of its revenue from cloud customers, thanks to AI demand.

From MarketWatch

As of February, Allbirds was still pushing ahead with its initial sustainability pitch, announcing the launch of a shoe collection made with a leather alternative derived from plant proteins and recycled tires.

From MarketWatch

It was an off-speed pitch first derived from the forkball that hadn’t been popular since the age of the Walkman—and its reputation for shredding elbows had given it a stigma.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Australian government says supply is not an issue - rather, sharp rises in the price of oil on the international market has had a knock-on effect on the price of fuels derived from it.

From BBC

The computational model of a neural network mimicked the owl’s auditory map—the flow of auditory information—which helped Rumelhart derive a theory about how the owl’s system developed and worked.

From The Wall Street Journal