Essential Meaning of derive
1 : to take or get (something) from (something else) The river derives its name from a Native American tribe. She derived [=received, took] great satisfaction from their friendship.
2 : to have something as a source : to come from something Much of the book's appeal derives from the personality of its central character.
Full Definition of derive
1a : to take, receive, or obtain especially from a specified source is said to derive its name from a Native American word meaning "wild onion"
b chemistry : to obtain (a chemical substance) actually or theoretically from a parent substance Petroleum is derived from coal tar.
3 archaic : bring … inconvenience that will be derived to them from stopping all imports …— Thomas Jefferson
4 : to trace the derivation of We can derive the word "chauffeur" from French.
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