de·rive (dĭ-rīv')

v., -rived, -riv·ing, -rives.

v.tr.

1. To obtain or receive from a source.
2. To arrive at by reasoning; deduce or infer: derive a conclusion from facts.
3. To trace the origin or development of (a word).
4. Linguistics. To generate (one structure) from another or from a set of others.
5. Chemistry. To produce or obtain (a compound) from another substance by chemical reaction.

v.intr.
To issue from a source; originate. See synonyms at stem¹.

[Middle English deriven, to be derived from, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvāre, to derive, draw off : dē-, de- + rīvus, stream.]

derivable de·riv'a·ble adj.
deriver de·riv'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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