Standard Lemma guide

derive

verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈɹaɪv/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /dɪˈɹɑev/
  • New-Zealand: [dəˈɹɑe̯v]
  • rhymes with -aɪv
  • CMU ARPABET: D ER0 AY1 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To obtain or receive (something) from something else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Reading books is the best way to derive knowledge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To find the derivation of (a word or phrase).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To originate or stem (from).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Her excellent organisation skills derive from her time as a secretary in the army.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To turn the course of (water, etc.); to divert and distribute into subordinate channels.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To differentiate (a function).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: proscribed, transitive

Topics: mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

develop or evolve from a latent or potential state

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: educe

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: make, create

Narrower terms: etymologize, etymologise

9

verb

Meaning 9

come from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The present name derives from an older form

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: evolve

10

verb

Meaning 10

reason by deduction; establish by deduction

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deduce, infer, deduct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reason, reason out, conclude

Narrower terms: extrapolate, surmise, elicit

11

verb

Meaning 11

obtain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • derive pleasure from one's garden

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gain

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: obtain

Narrower terms: reap, draw

12

verb

Meaning 12

come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She was descended from an old Italian noble family
  • he comes from humble origins

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: come, descend

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

109 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: استمد — obtain (something) from something else
  • Armenian: ստանալ (stanal) — obtain (something) from something else
  • Bulgarian: добивам (dobivam) — obtain (something) from something else
  • Bulgarian: че́рпя (čérpja) — obtain (something) from something else
  • Catalan: derivar — obtain (something) from something else
  • Czech: získat — obtain (something) from something else
  • Dutch: afleiden — obtain (something) from something else
  • Estonian: tuletama — obtain (something) from something else
  • Finnish: johtaa — obtain (something) from something else
  • French: tirer — obtain (something) from something else
  • French: trouver — obtain (something) from something else
  • German: erlangen — obtain (something) from something else
  • Ancient Greek: λαμβάνω ἐκ (lambánō ek) — obtain (something) from something else
  • Hungarian: nyer — obtain (something) from something else
  • Ingrian: veittää — obtain (something) from something else
  • Latin: fluere — obtain (something) from something else
  • Latin: fluo — obtain (something) from something else
  • Latin: orior — obtain (something) from something else
  • Norwegian Bokmål: avlede — obtain (something) from something else
  • Persian: آریکدن — obtain (something) from something else
  • Portuguese: derivar — obtain (something) from something else
  • Romanian: deriva — obtain (something) from something else
  • Spanish: derivar — obtain (something) from something else
  • Swedish: avleda — obtain (something) from something else
  • Swedish: uppnå — obtain (something) from something else
  • Turkish: sağlamak — obtain (something) from something else
  • Turkish: türetmek — obtain (something) from something else
  • Arabic: استنتج — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Armenian: բխեցնել (bxecʻnel) — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Armenian: հանգել (hangel) — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Armenian: եզրակացնել (ezrakacʻnel) — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Bulgarian: извличам (izvličam) — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Czech: odvodit — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Danish: udlede — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Dutch: afleiden — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Dutch: deduceren — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Estonian: tuletama — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Finnish: johtaa — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Finnish: päätellä — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • French: déduire — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • French: conclure — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • West-Frisian: ôfliede — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • German: herleiten — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • German: ableiten — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Hungarian: levezet — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Hungarian: eredeztet — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Persian: آریکدن — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Portuguese: deduzir — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Swedish: härleda — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Turkish: elde etmek — deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning
  • Armenian: պարզել ծագումը (parzel cagumə) — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Danish: udlede — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Dutch: afleiden — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • French: dériver — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • West-Frisian: ôfliede — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • German: herleiten — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • German: ableiten — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Hungarian: származtat — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Italian: derivare — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Latin: gigno — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Portuguese: derivar — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Turkish: türetmek — find the derivation of (a word or phrase)
  • Armenian: ստանալ (stanal) — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Bulgarian: добивам (dobivam) — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Catalan: derivar — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Danish: udlede — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Dutch: afleiden — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • French: dériver — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • German: ableiten — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Italian: derivare — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Latin: proficīscor — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Latin: origo proficīscor — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Portuguese: derivar — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Spanish: derivar — create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction
  • Armenian: սերել (serel) — originate (from)
  • Armenian: ծագել (cagel) — originate (from)
  • Armenian: առաջանալ (aṙaǰanal) — originate (from)
  • Armenian: սկիզբ առնել (skizb aṙnel) — originate (from)
  • Bulgarian: произхождам (proizhoždam) — originate (from)
  • Catalan: derivar — originate (from)
  • Danish: opstå — originate (from)
  • Dutch: ontstaan — originate (from)
  • Esperanto: deveni — originate (from)
  • French: dériver — originate (from)
  • French: découler — originate (from)
  • West-Frisian: ôfstamje — originate (from)
  • German: abstammen — originate (from)
  • German: kommen von — originate (from)
  • Greek: προέρχομαι (proérchomai) — originate (from)
  • Hungarian: származik — originate (from)
  • Latin: origo proficīscor — originate (from)
  • Latin: fluo — originate (from)
  • Latin: a ducor — originate (from)
  • Latin: ex ducor — originate (from)
  • Latin: e ducor — originate (from)
  • Latin: ab orior — originate (from)
  • Latin: orior ex — originate (from)
  • Latin: orior e — originate (from)
  • Latin: ab mano — originate (from)
  • Latin: a mano — originate (from)
  • Latin: mano ex — originate (from)
  • Māori: take — originate (from)
  • Māori: pūtake — originate (from)
  • Persian: برگرفتن (bargereftan) — originate (from)
  • Portuguese: derivar — originate (from)
  • Russian: происходи́ть (proisxodítʹ) — originate (from)
  • Russian: произойти́ (proizojtí) — originate (from)
  • Spanish: derivar — originate (from)
  • Turkish: türemek — originate (from)
Real reading context

derive in complete knowledge articles