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transitive

[ tran-si-tiv, -zi- ]

adjective

  1. Grammar. having the nature of a transitive verb.
  2. characterized by or involving transition; transitional; intermediate.
  3. passing over to or affecting something else; transeunt.
  4. Mathematics. noting a relation in which one element in relation to a second element and the second in relation to a third element implies the first element is in relation to the third element, as the relation “less than or equal to.”


noun

  1. Grammar. a transitive verb.

transitive

/ ˈtrænsɪtɪv /

adjective

  1. grammar
    1. denoting an occurrence of a verb when it requires a direct object or denoting a verb that customarily requires a direct object

      ``to find'' is a transitive verb

    2. ( as noun )

      these verbs are transitives

  2. grammar denoting an adjective, such as fond , or a noun, such as husband , that requires a noun phrase and cannot be used without some implicit or explicit reference to such a noun phrase
  3. logic maths having the property that if one object bears a relationship to a second object that also bears the same relationship to a third object, then the first object bears this relationship to the third object

    mathematical equality is transitive, since if x = y and y = z then x = z

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


transitive

/ trănsĭ-tĭv /

  1. Of or relating to a mathematical or logical relation between three elements such that if the relation holds between the first and second elements and between the second and third elements, it necessarily holds between the first and third elements. The relation of being greater than in mathematics is transitive, since if a > b and b > c, then a > c.


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Derived Forms

  • ˌtransiˈtivity, noun
  • ˈtransitively, adverb
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Other Words From

  • transi·tive·ly adverb
  • transi·tive·ness transi·tivi·ty noun
  • non·transi·tive adjective noun
  • non·transi·tive·ly adverb
  • non·transi·tive·ness noun
  • un·transi·tive adjective
  • un·transi·tive·ly adverb
  • un·transi·tive·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of transitive1

First recorded in 1550–60; from Late Latin trānsitīvus, equivalent to Latin trānsit(us) ( transition ) + -īvus -ive
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Word History and Origins

Origin of transitive1

C16: from Late Latin transitīvus from Latin transitus a going over; see transient
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Example Sentences

Though science is regrettably behind in confirming this, I think it’s fair to say that, because pain causes an endorphin response, and hot peppers cause pain, by the transitive principle, eating hot peppers probably causes an endorphin rush.

How transitive these equations are is the question posed above, but it is trivial to follow the thread from one to the next to the next.

If the word is to be taken as virtually transitive, the object must be the partisans of the offender.

That's called "transitive trust" -- trust that moves across the web of our relationships.

The intransitive form derives from the transitive by dropping a generalized, customary, reflexive or cognate object.

To grammarians and logicians these have seemed more primitive than the transitive, or at least exceptions to the transitive.

I found that it was his persistent, natural, and magnificent use of hundreds of transitive verbs.

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transition temperaturetransitive verb