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11 dictionary results for: Derivative
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·riv·a·tive 
[di-riv-uh-tiv] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[di-riv-uh-tiv] Pronunciation Key –adjective
–noun
| 1. | derived. |
| 2. | not original; secondary. |
| 3. | something derived. |
| 4. | Also called derived form. Grammar. a form that has undergone derivation from another, as atomic from atom. |
| 5. | Chemistry. a substance or compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another substance or compound. |
| 6. | Also called differential quotient; especially British, differential coefficient. Mathematics. the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function to the increment of a variable in it, as the latter tends to 0; the instantaneous change of one quantity with respect to another, as velocity, which is the instantaneous change of distance with respect to time. Compare first derivative, second derivative. |
| 7. | a financial contract whose value derives from the value of underlying stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc. |
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME derivatif < LL dérīvātīvus, equiv. to L dérīvāt(us) (see derivation) + -īvus -ive]
] —Related forms
de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb
de·riv·a·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| de·riv·a·tive
(dĭ-rĭv'ə-tĭv) Pronunciation Key
adj.
n.
de·riv'a·tive·ly adv., de·riv'a·tive·ness n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| derivative | |
adjective | |
| 1. | resulting from or employing derivation; "a derivative process"; "a highly derivative prose style" |
noun | |
| 1. | the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx [syn: derived function] |
| 2. | a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound |
| 3. | a financial instrument whose value is based on another security [syn: derivative instrument] |
| 4. | (linguistics) a word that is derived from another word; "'electricity' is a derivative of 'electric'" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| derivative
(dĭ-rĭv'ə-tĭv) Pronunciation Key
In calculus, the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a particular point on the curve. Since a curve represents a function, its derivative can also be thought of as the rate of change of the corresponding function at the given point. Derivatives are computed using differentiation.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Resulting from, characterized by, or employing derivation.
derivative de·riv·a·tive (dĭ-rĭv'ə-tĭv)
n.
- Something obtained or produced by modification of something else.
- A chemical compound that may be produced from another compound of similar structure in one or more steps.
Resulting from, characterized by, or employing derivation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This
Derivative
In finance, a security whose price is dependent upon or derived from one or more underlying assets. The derivative itself is merely a contract between two or more parties. Its value is determined by the fluctuations of the underlying asset. The most common underlying assets include: stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates and market indexes. Most derivatives are characterized by high leverage.
Investopedia Commentary
Futures contracts, forward contracts, options and swaps are the most common types of derivatives. Because derivatives are just contracts, just about anything can be used as an underlying asset. There are even derivatives based on weather data, such as the amount of rain or the number of sunny days in a particular region.
Derivatives are generally used to hedge risk, but can also be used for speculative purposes. For example, a European investor purchasing shares of an American company off of an American exchange (using American dollars to do so) would be exposed to exchange-rate risk while holding that stock. To hedge this risk, the investor could purchase currency futures to lock in a specified exchange rate for the future stock sale and currency conversion back into euros.
Related Links
Introduction To Weather Derivatives
Corporate Use of Derivatives for Hedging
Futures Fundamentals
Options Basics Tutorial
See also: Credit Derivative, Forward Contract, Futures, Hybrid Security, Option, Rho, Underlying
Also spelled: derivatives, derivitives, derivitive
Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This
derivative
- An asset that derives its value from another asset. For example, a call option on the stock of Coca-Cola is a derivative security that obtains value from the shares of Coca-Cola that can be purchased with the call option. Call options, put options, convertible bonds, futures contracts, and convertible preferred stock are examples of derivatives. A derivative can be either a risky or low-risk investment, depending upon the type of derivative and how it is used. See also underlying asset 2.
Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: de·riv·a·tive
Pronunciation: d&-'ri-v&-tiv
Function: noun
: a contract or security that derives its value from that of an underlying asset (as another security) or from the value of a rate (as of interest or currency exchange) or index of asset value (as a stock index)
NOTE: Derivatives often take the form of customized contracts transacted outside of security exchanges, while other contracts, such as standard index options and futures, are openly traded on such exchanges. Derivatives often involve a forward contract.
Main Entry: de·riv·a·tive
Pronunciation: d&-'ri-v&-tiv
Function: noun
: a contract or security that derives its value from that of an underlying asset (as another security) or from the value of a rate (as of interest or currency exchange) or index of asset value (as a stock index)
NOTE: Derivatives often take the form of customized contracts transacted outside of security exchanges, while other contracts, such as standard index options and futures, are openly traded on such exchanges. Derivatives often involve a forward contract.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: derivative
Function: adjective
1 : arising out of or dependent on the existence of something else —compare DIRECT
2 : of, relating to, or being a derivative derivative transaction> —de·riv·a·tive·ly adverb
Main Entry: derivative
Function: adjective
1 : arising out of or dependent on the existence of something else —compare DIRECT
2 : of, relating to, or being a derivative derivative transaction> —de·riv·a·tive·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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