obtain something from (a specified source):they derived great comfort from this assurance
(derive something from) base a concept on an extension or modification of (another concept):some maintain that he derived the idea of civil disobedience from Thoreau
[no object] (derive from) (of a word) have (a specified word, usually of another language) as a root or origin:the word ‘punch’ derives from the Hindustani ‘pancha’ [with object]:the word ‘man’ is derived from the Sanskrit ‘manas’
[no object] (derive from) arise from or originate in (a specified source):words whose spelling derives from Dr Johnson’s incorrect etymology
(be derived from) Linguistics (of a sentence in a natural language) be linked by a set of stages to (its underlying logical form).
(be derived from) (of a substance) be formed or prepared by (a chemical or physical process affecting another substance):strong acids are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels
Mathematics obtain (a function or equation) from another by a sequence of logical steps, for example by differentiation:the volume fraction of the soil can then be derived as a function of L
