DERIVATIVE

I. noun Date: 15th century a word formed by derivation, something derived, the limit of the ratio of the change in a function to the corresponding change in its independent variable as the latter change approaches zero, 4. a chemical substance related structurally to another substance and theoretically derivable from it, a substance that can be made from another substance, a contract or security that derives its value from that of an underlying asset (as another security) or from the value of a rate (as of interest or currency exchange) or index of asset value (as a stock index), II. adjective Date: circa 1530 formed by derivation , made up of or marked by derived elements, lacking originality ; banal , ~ly adverb ~ness noun