Derived

/dɪˈraɪvd/

verbIntermediateCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To obtain something (e.g., information, a feeling, an advantage) from a source; to originate from something.

/dɪˈraɪv/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To obtain something from a source.

He derived great pleasure from helping others.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're getting something like a good grade or an answer. If you *derived* it, that means you got it *from* something else, like studying or asking a friend.

👶 For kids: To get something from somewhere else. Like, where did your idea come from?

More Examples

2

The word 'derive' is derived from the Latin word 'derivare'.

3

We derived our conclusions from the data collected.

How It's Used

Science

"Scientists derived energy from the sun."

Law

"The prosecution derived its argument from witness testimony."

2

Having been obtained from a source; originating from something.

/dɪˈraɪvd/

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
General

Coming from or obtained from a source.

She had a derived sense of satisfaction from her work.

💡 Simply: If something is *derived*, it means it came from something else. Like, a *derived* idea means the idea came from another idea.

👶 For kids: Something that came from something else.

More Examples

2

A derived income from investments can be a source of wealth.

3

The theory is a derived concept.

How It's Used

Linguistics

"A derived word, such as 'unhappy', contains a prefix."

Mathematics

"A derived quantity is calculated from base quantities."

Tip:Something *derived* is like a river (*rivus* again!) that *comes from* a spring.

Idioms & expressions

derived demand

Demand for a good or service that arises from the demand for another good or service.

"The derived demand for steel increases when the demand for cars increases."

From Old French *dérveir*, from Latin *dērivāre* ('to draw off, lead away'), from *dē-* ('from, away') + *rīvus* ('stream').

Used since the 14th century, initially to mean 'to draw off (water)'. The meaning expanded over time.

Memory tip

Think of a river (*rivus*) branching out, taking water *from* a source.

derrivedderieved

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written