Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.