De‐riv″a‐tive, n. 1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.
2. (Gram.) A word formed from another word, by a prefix or suffix, an internal modification, or some other change; a word which takes its origin from a root.
3. (Mus.) A chord, not fundamental, but obtained from another by inversion; or, vice versa, a ground tone or root implied in its harmonics in an actual chord.
4. (Med.) An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation (in the medical sense).
5. (Math.) A derived function; a function obtained from a given function by a certain algebraic process.
☞ Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the same as the differential coefficient. See Differential coefficient, under Differential.
6. (Chem.) A substance so related to another substance by modification or partial substitution as to be regarded as derived from it; thus, the amido compounds are derivatives of ammonia, and the hydrocarbons are derivatives of methane, benzene, etc.