derive
Etymology

From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō, from dē ("away") + rīvus ("a stream"); see rival.

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /dɪˈɹaɪv/
Verb

derive (derives, present participle deriving; simple past and past participle derived)

  1. (transitive) To obtain or receive (something) from something else.
  2. (transitive, logic) To deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning.
  3. (transitive, linguistics) To find the derivation of (a word or phrase).
  4. (transitive, chemistry) 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.
    • 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC ↗:
      Book 33
      For fear it [water] choke up the pits […] they [the workman] deriue it by other drains.
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