transitive

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɹænzɪtɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #86043

Meanings

1

adj
(of a verb) Needing a direct object to complete its meaning.

The verb "hit" is transitive because you must hit something.
2

noun
A verb that requires a direct object.

In grammar class we learned to tell transitives from intransitives.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a verb that requires a... transitive verb

Word family

Forms transitiveness

Derived forms ambitransitivebitransitiveditransitivemonotransitivequasi-transitivesemi-transitivetransitivelytransitivenesstransitivityunitransitive

Related forms reflexivesymmetric

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

transitive verb
a verb used with a direct object

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin trānsitīvus, from trānsitus, from trāns (“across”) + itus, from eō (“to go”).

Topics

Describing Qualities Language & Linguistics

External links

# transitive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɹænzɪtɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 86043

## Meanings
1. (of a verb) Needing a direct object to complete its meaning.
2. A verb that requires a direct object.

## Examples
- The verb "hit" is transitive because you must hit something.
- In grammar class we learned to tell transitives from intransitives.

## Derived Forms
- ambitransitive
- bitransitive
- ditransitive
- monotransitive
- quasi-transitive
- semi-transitive
- transitively
- transitiveness
- transitivity
- unitransitive

## Related Forms
- reflexive
- symmetric

## Etymology
From Latin trānsitīvus, from trānsitus, from trāns (“across”) + itus, from eō (“to go”).

## AI Etymology
Transitive is from Latin trānsitīvus, from trānsitus, from trāns (“across”) + itus, from eō (“to go”). In present-day use, it can mean (of a verb) Needing a direct object to complete its meaning, or a verb that requires a direct object. Derived formations include ambitransitive, bitransitive, ditransitive, monotransitive, quasi-transitive, semi-transitive, transitively, transitiveness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Language & Linguistics

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