TRANSITIVE


Meaning of TRANSITIVE in English

I. ˈtran(t)səd.]iv, ˈtraan-, -nzə-, -ət] adjective

Etymology: Late Latin transitivus, from Latin transitus (past participle of transire to cross over, pass) + -ivus -ive — more at transient

1.

a. of a verb form : expressing an action that carries over from an agent or subject to an object : taking a direct object

b. of a grammatical construction : containing a transitive verb form

2. : passing or leading successively on to members of a class or a series of developments : transient 2

a moment connected with a wider complex of moments in a transitive chain that goes on indefinitely — Eliseo Vivas

the main use of transitive parts is to lead us from one substantive conclusion to another — William James

specifically : of or relating to a logical relationship between x,y, and z such that if x has a specified relation to y and y to z then x has this relationship to z

3. : of, relating to, or involving transition : transitional

the transitive process of constructing a new philosophy out of the old

4. : passing or descending to another in law

a transitive covenant binds not only its original maker but also his representatives

• tran·si·tive·ly ]ə̇vlē, -li adverb

• tran·si·tive·ness ]ivnə̇s noun -es

II. noun

( -s )

: a verb form or grammatical construction expressive of transitive force

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.