transitive


tran·si·tive

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

Definition of TRANSITIVE

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

Examples of TRANSITIVE

  1. In I like pie and She makes hats, the verbs like and makes are transitive.

Origin of TRANSITIVE

Late Latin transitivus, from Latin transitus, past participle of transire
First Known Use: 1590

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

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