origin
[noun]
Synonyms:
- root, base, basis, derivation, fount, fountainhead, source, wellspring
- beginning, birth, creation, emergence, foundation, genesis, inception, launch, start

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Related Words: maternity, parentage, paternity

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English Thesaurus: beginning, start, commencement, origin, the onset of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

or‧i‧gin W2 /ˈɒrədʒən, ˈɒrɪdʒən $ ˈɔː-, ˈɑː-/ noun [uncountable and countable]
[Word Family: noun: origin, original, originality, originator; verb: originate; adverb: originally; adjective: original ≠ UNORIGINAL]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: origine, from Latin origo, from oriri 'to rise']

1. (also origins) [plural] the place or situation in which something begins to exist
origin of
a new theory to explain the origins of the universe
in origin
Most coughs are viral in origin.
The word is French in origin.
The tradition has its origins in the Middle Ages.
old folk tales of unknown origin
country/place of origin (=where something came from)
All meat should be clearly labelled with its country of origin.

2. (also origins) [plural] the country, race, or type of family which someone comes from ⇒ extraction
of French/German/Asian etc origin
Two thirds of the pupils are of Asian origin.
The form asks for information about the person’s ethnic origin.
Immigrants rarely return to their country of origin.
She never forgot her humble origins.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

origin
noun
I. time/place/reason that sth starts
ADJ. common | doubtful, obscure, unknown a letter of doubtful origin
true | ancient, early, primitive | recent The term ‘black hole’ is of very recent origin.
immediate The development had its immediate origins in discussions with management.
African, English, etc. | foreign | local | mixed | natural | supernatural | environmental, geographical, historical, intellectual | animal, human, mineral, plant, vegetable foods of animal origin We shouldn't forget our animal origins.
VERB + ORIGIN have, share The vases share common origins.
investigate, trace | owe Population genetics owes its origin to Francis Galton.
explain | reflect
ORIGIN + VERB go back to sth, lie in sth The origins of Gdansk go back to the tenth century.
PREP. in ~ The rock is volcanic in origin.
of … ~ a painting of unknown origin
PHRASES sth's country of origin Bottles are labelled by country of origin.
have its origin in sth The dispute had its origin in the Battle of Wakefield.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

origin
II. family, race, class, etc, that a person comes from
ADJ. African, English, etc. | foreign | mixed | class, ethnic, national, racial, social | middle-class, noble, peasant, slave, working-class | humble, lowly He had risen from humble origins through hard work.
VERB + ORIGIN trace Their family can trace its origins back to the Norman Conquest.
betray Her accent betrayed her working-class origins.
PREP. by ~ He is a Londoner by origin.
in ~ Her family is Portuguese in origin.
of … ~ He was of lowly origins.
PHRASES sb's country of origin

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

origin

a common origin (=a place or situation in which different things all started to exist)
It may be that all life on Earth has a common origin.
of recent origin (=having started to exist only a short time ago)
This particular theory is of very recent origin.
of unknown origin (=used to say that no one knows where, when, or how something started)
an ancient folk tale of unknown origin
of doubtful origin (=unknown and possibly suspicious)
The fire was still being treated as of doubtful origin.
sth’s historical/geographical/political etc origins
This type of story has its historical origins in eighteenth century gothic novels.
the geographical origins of the plant
have its origin in something (=begin to exist)
The ceremony has its origins in medieval times.
trace its origins to something (=used to say that something can find evidence that it began to exist at a particular time or in a particular place)
The Roman Catholic Church traces its origins back to the 4th century.
trace the origin of something (=find where, when etc something began to exist)
It’s difficult to trace the origin of some words.
owe its origins to something (=used to explain how something began to exist)
a government which owes its origins to revolution
sth’s origins lie in something (=something comes from a particular place or or develops from a particular situation)
a grape whose origins lie in northern Italy
The technique’s origins lie in the popular arts of the time.
sth’s origins go back to something (=used to say when or how something began)
The school’s origins go back to the 12th century.
investigate the origin of something (=try to find out where, when etc something began to exist)
researchers investigating the origin of AIDS
the country/place of origin (=the country or place where something is made or produced)
The rugs are somewhat cheaper in their country of origin.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
start the beginning of something, or the way something begins:
Tomorrow marks the start of the presidential election campaign.
It was not a good start to the day.
The runners lined up for the start of the race.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

start to begin doing something:
I’m starting a new job next week.
It’s time we started.
begin to start doing something. Begin is more formal than start, and is used especially in written English:
He began to speak.
The orchestra began playing.
Shall we begin?
commence formal to start doing something:
The company will commence drilling next week.
Work was commenced on the next power station.
get down to something to finally start doing something, especially your work:
Come on, Sam – it’s time you got down to some homework.
We’d better get down to business.
set off to start a journey:
What time do you have to set off in the morning?
I usually set off for work at about 8.30.
set out to start a long journey:
The ship set out from Portsmouth on July 12th.
embark on something especially written to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting:
The Law Society has embarked on a major programme of reform.
Jamaica was embarking on a decade of musical creativity.
resume formal to start doing something again after stopping it or being interrupted:
Normal train services will be resumed on April 5th.
Trade was resumed after the end of the war.
get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere:
I think we should get cracking straightaway.
start/begin to begin:
What time does the film start?
open to start being shown to the public – used about a play, show, or exhibition:
Lloyd Webber’s new musical opened in London last week.
A major exhibition of her work will open in New York in November.
get under way to start happening or being done – used especially about something that is likely to last a long time:
Construction work is getting under way on a new train network.
Discussions concerning the plan got under way on April 2.
break out to start happening – used especially about a fire, a fight, war, or a disease:
Police were called in when fighting broke out in the crowd.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the hotel.
kick off informal to start – used especially about a football game or a meeting:
The match is due to kick off this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
What time will the celebrations kick off?
a good/great start
A 3-0 win is a good start for the team.
a flying start (=a very good start)
The appeal got off to a flying start at the weekend when the group held a raffle.
a promising start (=a good start that makes success seem likely)
Her teacher says she's made a promising start in learning Spanish.
a bad/poor/disastrous start
Things got off to a bad start when two people turned up late.
a rocky/shaky start (=a rather bad start)
After a shaky start, they managed two wins in five matches.
a disappointing start
He accepted full responsibility for the club’s disappointing start to the season.
a slow start
Work got off to a very slow start because of bad weather.
an auspicious/inauspicious start (=one that makes it seem likely that something will be good or bad)
His second term in office has got off to an extremely inauspicious start.
an early/late start
It was long trip so we had planned an early start.
get off to a good/bad etc start
On your first day at work, you want to get off to a good start.
make a good/bad/early etc start
He made a flying start at college, but then he didn't manage to keep it up.
have a good/bad etc start
We’ve had a disappointing start but we are hoping to improve.
beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲