transitive

[ tran-si-tiv, -zi- ]

adjective

1. Grammar. having the nature of a transitive verb.
2. characterized by or involving transition; transitional; intermediate.
3. passing over to or affecting something else; transeunt.
4. Mathematics. noting a relation in which one element in relation to a second element and the second in relation to a third element implies the first element is in relation to the third element, as the relation “less than or equal to.”

noun

1. Grammar. a transitive verb.

transitive

/ ˈtrænsɪtɪv /

adjective

1. grammar
   1. denoting an occurrence of a verb when it requires a direct object or denoting a verb that customarily requires a direct object

      ``to find'' is a transitive verb

   2. ( as noun )

      these verbs are transitives

2. grammar denoting an adjective, such as fond , or a noun, such as husband , that requires a noun phrase and cannot be used without some implicit or explicit reference to such a noun phrase
3. logic maths having the property that if one object bears a relationship to a second object that also bears the same relationship to a third object, then the first object bears this relationship to the third object

   mathematical equality is transitive, since if x = y and y = z then x = z

transitive

/ trăn′sĭ-tĭv /

1. Of or relating to a mathematical or logical relation between three elements such that if the relation holds between the first and second elements and between the second and third elements, it necessarily holds between the first and third elements. The relation of being greater than in mathematics is transitive, since if a > b and b > c, then a > c.

Derived Forms

• ˌtransiˈtivity, noun
• ˈtransitively, adverb

Other Words From

• transi·tive·ly adverb
• transi·tive·ness transi·tivi·ty noun
• non·transi·tive adjective noun
• non·transi·tive·ly adverb
• non·transi·tive·ness noun
• un·transi·tive adjective
• un·transi·tive·ly adverb
• un·transi·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transitive¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Late Latin trānsitīvus, equivalent to Latin trānsit(us) ( transition ) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of transitive¹

C16: from Late Latin transitīvus from Latin transitus a going over; see transient

Example Sentences

Though science is regrettably behind in confirming this, I think it’s fair to say that, because pain causes an endorphin response, and hot peppers cause pain, by the transitive principle, eating hot peppers probably causes an endorphin rush.

From Popular-Science

How transitive these equations are is the question posed above, but it is trivial to follow the thread from one to the next to the next.

From Washington Post

If the word is to be taken as virtually transitive, the object must be the partisans of the offender.

From Project Gutenberg

That's called "transitive trust" -- trust that moves across the web of our relationships.

From Project Gutenberg

The intransitive form derives from the transitive by dropping a generalized, customary, reflexive or cognate object.

From Project Gutenberg

To grammarians and logicians these have seemed more primitive than the transitive, or at least exceptions to the transitive.

From Project Gutenberg

I found that it was his persistent, natural, and magnificent use of hundreds of transitive verbs.

From Project Gutenberg