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View synonyms for derivative

derivative

[ dih-riv-uh-tiv ]

adjective

  1. not original; secondary.


noun

  1. something that has been derived.
  2. Also called de·rived form [dih-, rahyvd, , fawrm]. Grammar. a form that has undergone derivation from another, as atomic from atom.
  3. Chemistry. a substance or compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another substance or compound.
  4. Also called dif·fer·en·tial quo·tient [dif, -, uh, -ren-sh, uh, l , kwoh, -sh, uh, nt];. 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.
  5. a financial contract whose value derives from the value of underlying stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc.

derivative

/ dɪˈrɪvətɪv /

adjective

  1. resulting from derivation; derived
  2. based on or making use of other sources; not original or primary
  3. copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic


noun

  1. a term, idea, etc, that is based on or derived from another in the same class
  2. a word derived from another word
  3. chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compound

    chloroform is a derivative of methane

  4. maths
    1. Also calleddifferential coefficientfirst derivative the change of a function, f( x ), with respect to an infinitesimally small change in the independent variable, x ; the limit of [f( a + Δ x )–f( a )] / Δ x , at x = a , as the increment, Δ x , tends to 0. Symbols: df( x )/d x , f′( x ), Df( x )

      the derivative of xn is nxn–1

    2. the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another

      velocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time

  5. finance a financial instrument, such as a futures contract or option, the price of which is largely determined by the commodity, currency, share price, interest rate, etc, to which it is linked
  6. psychoanal an activity that represents the expression of hidden impulses and desires by channelling them into socially acceptable forms

derivative

/ dĭ-rĭvə-tĭv /

  1. 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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Derived Forms

  • deˈrivatively, adverb

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Other Words From

  • de·riv·a·tive·ly adverb
  • de·riv·a·tive·ness noun
  • non·de·riv·a·tive adjective noun
  • non·de·riv·a·tive·ly adverb
  • un·de·riv·a·tive adjective
  • un·de·riv·a·tive·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of derivative1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English derivatif, from Late Latin dērīvātīvus, equivalent to Latin dērīvāt(us) ( derivation ) + -īvus suffix; -ive

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Example Sentences

Roni Israelov, the President of investment firm Ndvr and the author of several academic papers on derivatives, says 2020 has brought a big uptick in options contracts for individual stocks.

From Fortune

Indeed, Randy Frederick, Charles Schwab’s vice president of trading and derivatives, argues the latest tech correction can largely be chalked up to, “without a doubt, the fact that things had gotten very, very expensive.”

From Fortune

The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and Zero Hedge reported that SoftBank was making massive bets on technology stocks using equity derivatives.

From Fortune

The FT later reported that SoftBank is sitting on trading gains of about $4 billion from founder Masayoshi Son’s bets on equity derivatives, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

From Fortune

These are derivative contracts that an investor, usually an insurance company, can buy as a way of further hedging their risks from natural disasters.

From Fortune

These movies follow a number of those derivative action movie prescriptions.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the morphine derivative is the most addictive drug in its class.

Of course these are derivative, too, almost as though Serra were his own pupil, or a forger of his own pieces.

The new idea of making the said Dorito shell spicier and adding a splash of lime is derivative at best.

Some of those owners are outside your country, so you don't even get derivative benefits.

Those who hold that the species were the basis of the ancient Modes or harmoniai must regard the keys as derivative.

The derivative law in this case depends not solely on laws, but on a collocation; and collocations cannot be reduced to any law.

In the example in question, we know the causes on which the derivative uniformity depends.

Some are ultimate properties, others derivative; of some, no cause can be assigned, but others are manifestly dependent on causes.

It is a derivative word, from Algonkin, and gan the penultimate syllable of the Odjibwa term Sa-g--gan, a lake.

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