Main Entry:

tran·si·tive

Pronunciation:

\ˈtran(t)-sə-tiv, ˈtran-zə-; ˈtran(t)s-tiv\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Late Latin transitivus, from Latin transitus, past participle of transire

Date:

1590

1 : characterized by having or containing a direct object <a transitive verb> 2 : being or relating to a relation with the property that if the relation holds between a first element and a second and between the second element and a third, it holds between the first and third elements <equality is a transitive relation> 3 : of, relating to, or characterized by transition

— tran·si·tive·ly adverb

— tran·si·tive·ness noun

— tran·si·tiv·i·ty \ˌtran(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē, ˌtran-zə-\ noun