de|riv|a|tive

de|riv|a|tive «dih RIHV uh tihv», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. not original; derived: »

derivative poetry.

2. of derivation; derivational.

–n.

1. something derived: »

Many medicines are derivatives of roots and herbs. They spoke a derivative of the Malay language (Harper's).

2. a word formed by adding a prefix or suffix to another word. Quickness and quickly are derivatives of quick.

3. a chemical substance obtained from another by modification or by partial substitution of components: »

Acetic acid is a derivative of alcohol.

4. Mathematics. a) the instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to its variable. b) a function derived from another in differential calculus; differential coefficient.

5. an investment which is a contract having a value derived from the performance of some financial market such as the stock, currency, or bond markets: »

Derivatives allow users to profit—or lose money—from gains or losses in assets like stocks, bonds or currencies, without actually owning those assets (Saul Hansell).

–de|riv´a|tive|ly, adverb.

–de|riv´a|tive|ness, noun.