derivative

Definitions

1. 1adjective

   Obtained by derivation; derived; not radical, original, or fundamental; originating, deduced, or formed from something else; secondary; as, a derivative conveyance; a derivative word.

2. 2noun

   That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.

3. 3noun

   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.

4. 4noun

   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.

5. 5noun

   An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation (in the medical sense).

6. 6noun

   A derived function; a function obtained from a given function by a certain algebraic process.

7. 7noun

   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.

8. 8noun

   the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx

   Synonyms

   differential
9. 9noun

   (linguistics) a word that is derived from another word

   "`electricity' is a derivative of `electric'"

10. 10noun

    a financial instrument whose value is based on another security

11. 11noun

    a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound

12. 12adjective

    resulting from or employing derivation

    "a derivative process"

    "a highly derivative prose style"