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derive

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derive

  • /dɪˈɹaɪv/ Canada, US, UK
  • /dɪˈɹɑev/ Australia
  • [dəˈɹɑe̯v] New Zealand

Rhymes with -aɪv

Where it comes from

From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō (“to lead, turn, or draw off (a liquid), draw off, derive”), from dē (“away”) + rīvus (“a stream”); see rival. Unrelated to arrive.

verb derives · deriving · derived

  1. transitive To obtain or receive (something) from something else. Reading books is the best way to derive knowledge.
  2. transitive To deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning.
  3. transitive To find the derivation of (a word or phrase).
  4. transitive To create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction.
  5. intransitive To originate or stem (from). Her excellent organisation skills derive from her time as a secretary in the army.
  6. To turn the course of (water, etc.); to divert and distribute into subordinate channels. For fear it [water] choke up the pits […] they [the workman] deriue it by other drains.
  7. proscribed, transitive To differentiate (a function).

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: deduce, infer, educe, come, gain, deduct, descend, extrapolate, result, identify, refer, realize, learn, estimate, devise, depend

Translations

Every language

verb obtain (something) from something else

Españolderivar
Portuguêsderivar
Françaistirer, trouver
Deutscherlangen
Românăderiva
العربيةاستمد

verb deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning

Portuguêsdeduzir
Françaisdéduire, conclure
Deutschherleiten, ableiten
العربيةاستنتج

verb find the derivation of (a word or phrase)

Portuguêsderivar
Françaisdériver
Deutschherleiten, ableiten
Italianoderivare

verb create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction

Españolderivar
Portuguêsderivar
Françaisdériver
Deutschableiten
Italianoderivare

verb originate (from)

Españolderivar
Portuguêsderivar
Françaisdériver, découler
Deutschabstammen, kommen von
Ελληνικάπροέρχομαι proérchomai
Русскийпроисходи́ть proisxodítʹ, произойти́ proizojtí

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Cite this
MLA

"derive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/derive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

derive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/derive

Chicago

"derive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/derive.

BibTeX
@misc{derive_2026,
  title = {derive},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/derive},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}