3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Derivative \De*riv"a*tive\, a. [L. derivativus: cf. F.
d['e]rivatif.]
Obtained by derivation; derived; not radical, original, or
fundamental; originating, deduced, or formed from something
else; secondary; as, a derivative conveyance; a derivative
word.
{Derivative circulation}, a modification of the circulation
found in some parts of the body, in which the arteries
empty directly into the veins without the interposition of
capillaries. --Flint. -- {De*riv"a*tive*ly}, adv. --
{De*riv"a*tive*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Derivative \De*riv"a*tive\, n.
1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from
another.
2. (Gram.) A word formed from another word, by a prefix or
suffix, an internal modification, or some other change; a
word which takes its origin from a root.
3. (Mus.) A chord, not fundamental, but obtained from another
by inversion; or, vice versa, a ground tone or root
implied in its harmonics in an actual chord.
4. (Med.) An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation
(in the medical sense).
5. (Math.) A derived function; a function obtained from a
given function by a certain algebraic process.
Note: Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the
same as the differential coefficient. See {Differential
coefficient}, under {Differential}.
6. (Chem.) A substance so related to another substance by
modification or partial substitution as to be regarded as
derived from it; thus, the amido compounds are derivatives
of ammonia, and the hydrocarbons are derivatives of
methane, benzene, etc.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
derivative
adj : resulting from or employing derivation; "a derivative
process"; "a highly derivative prose style"
n 1: the result of mathematical differentiation; the
instantaneous change of one quantity relative to
another; df(x)/dx [syn: {derived function}, {differential
coefficient}, {differential}, {first derivative}]
2: a financial instrument whose value is based on another
security [syn: {derivative instrument}]
3: (linguistics) a word that is derived from another word;
"`electricity' is a derivative of `electric'"