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derivative
adjective
- derived
- using or taken from other sources; not original
- of derivation
noun
- something derived
- Chem. a substance derived from, or of such composition and properties that it may be considered as derived from, another substance by chemical change, esp. by the substitution of one or more elements or radicals
- Finance a contract, as an option or futures contract, whose value depends on the value of the securities, commodities, etc. that form the basis of the contract
- Linguis. a word formed from another or others by derivation
- Math. the limiting value of a rate of change of a function with respect to a variable; the instantaneous rate of change, or slope, of a function (Ex.: the derivative of y with respect to x, often written dy/dx, is 3 when y = 3x)
Related Forms:
- derivatively adverb
See derivative in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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