transitive

[tran-si-tiv, -zi-] /ˈtræn sɪ tɪv, -zɪ-/

adjective

Grammar. having the nature of a transitive verb.

characterized by or involving transition; transitional; intermediate.

passing over to or affecting something else; transeunt.

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

Grammar, transitive verb.

Origin

1550-60; < Late Latin trānsitīvus, equivalent to Latin trānsit(us) (see transition) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

transitively, adverb

transitiveness, transitivity, noun

nontransitive, adjective, noun

nontransitively, adverb

nontransitiveness, noun

untransitive, adjective

untransitively, adverb

untransitiveness, noun

Examples from the web for transitive

Of or relating to the grammatical case of the subject of a transitive verb in such a language.
There is, however a new logic of relations which fail to be reflexive, symmetric and transitive.
Trust is important this campaign season, and trust is transitive.
By the transitive property, that makes me pretty great, without ever having accomplished anything.
The good news: while you're wallowing in transitive anxiety, you can eat exceptionally well.

British Dictionary definitions for transitive

transitive

/ˈtrænsɪtɪv/

adjective

(grammar)

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
(as noun): these verbs are transitives

(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

(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

Compare intransitive

Derived Forms

transitively, adverb
transitivity, transitiveness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for transitive

adj.

"taking a direct object" (of verbs), 1570s (implied in transitively), from Late Latin transitivus (Priscian) "transitive," literally "that may pass over (to another person)," from transire "go or cross over" (see transient).

transitive in Science

transitive

(trān'sĭ-tĭv)
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.

transitive in Technology

A relation R is transitive if x R y & y R z => x R z. Equivalence relations, pre-, partial and total orders are all transitive.