Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French deriver, from Latin derivare, literally, to draw off , from de- + rivus stream; more at RUN
Pronunciation : di-rIv, dE-
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. extract, take from a source; obtain through reasoning. derive\de*rive"\ , v. i. to flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced. power from heaven derives, and monarchs rule by gods appointed.derive \de*rive"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. derived ; p. pr. & vb. n. deriving.] [f. dériver, l. derivare; de- + rivus stream, brook. see:
rival.].
2. to turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; -- followed by to, into, on, upon. [obs.] for fear it [water] choke up the pits they [the workman] derive it by other drains. her due loves derived to that vile witch's share. derived to us by tradition from adam to noah. taylor.
3. to receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; -- followed by from.
4. to trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of; as, he derives this word from the anglo-saxon. from these two causes an ancient set of physicians derived all diseases.
5. (chem.) to obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.
6. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; followed by to, into, on, upon.
7. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; followed by from.
8. To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of; as, he derives this word from the Anglo-Saxon.
9. To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.
10. To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced. develop or evolve, especially from a latent or potential state come from; "The present name derives from an older form" obtain; "derive pleasure from one's garden" come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; "She was descended from an old Italian noble family"; "he comes from humble origins".
11. 1. If you derive something such as pleasure or benefit from a person or from something, you get it from them. Mr Ying is one of those happy people who derive pleasure from helping others.
12. If you say that something such as a word or feeling derives or is derived from something else, you mean that it comes from that thing. Anna's strength is derived from her parents and her sisters The word Easter derives from Eostre, the pagan goddess of spring.