covariant derivative


covariant derivative

[kō′ver·ē·ənt də′riv·əd·iv] (mathematics) For a tensor field at a point P of an affine space, a new tensor field equal to the difference between the derivative of the original field defined in the ordinary manner and the derivative of a field whose value at points close to P are parallel to the value of the original field at P as specified by the affine connection.