Definition of: derivation

(der′ə·vā′shən) noun
1. The act of deriving, or the condition of being derived.
2. The tracing of a word from its original form and meaning; also, a statement of the information thus obtained.
3. Origin; descent; extraction.
4. Math. a The process of forming a derivative. b The act of deriving an equation or reaching a conclusion expressed as an equation.
—der′i·va′tion·al adjective