source
[noun]
Synonyms:
- origin, author, beginning, cause, derivation, fount, originator
- informant, authority

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Antonyms: termination, outcome
Contrasted words: end, ending, terminus
Related Words: birthplace, beginning, commencement, dawn, dawning, onset, opening, start, starting, authorship, origination, rise, rising, antecedent, cause, determinant, parent, paternity

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English Thesaurus: origin/origins, source, root, the birthplace of something, the cradle of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. source¹ S2 W1 AC /sɔːs $ sɔːrs/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: sourse, from sourdre 'to rise, spring out', from Latin surgere; ⇒ surge¹]

1. a thing, place, activity etc that you get something from:
They get their money from various sources.
source of
Beans are a very good source of protein.
For me, music is a great source of enjoyment.
at source British English:
Is your pension taxed at source (=before it is paid to you)?

2. the cause of something, especially a problem, or the place where it starts
source of
We’ve found the source of the trouble.
The recent name change has been the source of some confusion.

3. a person, book, or document that supplies you with information:
List all your sources at the end of your essay.
I’ve heard from reliable sources that the company is in trouble.

4. the place where a stream or river starts ⇒ mouth

5. technical source code

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. source² AC verb [transitive] technical

1. if goods are sourced from a particular place, they are obtained from that place
source from
Fish for the restaurant is sourced daily from British ports.
locally sourced milk

2. to find out where something can be obtained:
We might be able to source the parts.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

source
noun
I. where you get sth from
ADJ. excellent, fertile, good, lucrative, reliable, rich, valuable a fertile source of ideas a lucrative source of income a rich source of vitamins
important, main, major, principal | cheap a cheap source of labour
external, foreign Do you have any foreign sources of income?
independent an independent source of funding
additional | alternative We need to look for alternative sources of energy.
natural | renewable The village obtains all its energy from renewable sources.
energy, food, heat, light, power, water
VERB + SOURCE be, constitute, prove, provide The census constitutes the principal source of official statistics. These crustaceans provide a valuable food source for some fish.
exploit, tap, use (as) The government hopes to tap new sources of employment in the area of health.
locate We tried to locate the source of the sound.
PREP. at ~ Under the PAYE system, employees' income is taxed at source (= by the employer).
~ of a reliable source of advice
PHRASES a variety of sources The research was funded from a wide variety of sources.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

source
II. person, book, etc. that gives information
ADJ. invaluable, useful, valuable | authoritative, informed, reliable, reputable | unreliable | original | independent | anonymous | primary, secondary | published | biographical, documentary, historical, literary, written | diplomatic, government, intelligence, military, official, police Intelligence sources report a build-up of troops just inside the border.
data, information
VERB + SOURCE use (as) | cite, quote Researchers try to quote primary sources wherever possible. | disclose, name, reveal The police refused to reveal the source of their information.
SOURCE + VERB claim sth, describe sth, disclose sth, indicate sth, report sth, reveal sth, say sth, suggest sth Government sources indicated that a compromise might be reached. One source said: ‘Our blood is up. We are angry at the way we have been treated.’
deny sth
SOURCE + NOUN material
PREP. according to ~s According to informed sources, a takeover bid is planned for next month.
~ of
PHRASES sources close to sb Sources close to the player claim he won't be entering this year's championship.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

source

a good/excellent/rich source (=a source that provides a lot of something)
Milk is a good source of calcium.
a useful source
People said television was their most useful source of local information.
a major/important source
The lead mines were once a major source of employment for the islanders.
a great source
In times of stress, food can be a great source of comfort.
the main/primary source
It started as a hobby, but now it is his main source of income.
an alternative source
The university is exploring alternative funding sources.
an energy source
We hope to see increased usage of renewable energy sources.
a food source
Slugs attack potatoes in late summer, when other food sources are disappearing.
a power source (=something that produces power)
First, you need to turn off the power source.
a light source (=something that produces light)
The statue is illuminated by a hidden light source.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

origin/origins the place or situation in which something begins to exist:
the origins of the conflict in the Middle East
The book explains the origin of words.
Her disability is genetic in origin.
source the thing, place etc that you get something from:
They get their money from various sources.
Beans are a good source of protein.
root the root of a problem is the main cause. The roots of something are the things that it was originally based on:
Allergies are at the root of a lot of health problems.
At the root of the crisis was a shortage of hard cash.
They want a return to the roots of Christianity.
Reggae has its roots in a range of different musical styles.
the birthplace of something the place where something first started to exist:
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz.
Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee
the cradle of something the place where something important first started – used mainly in the following phrases:
Ancient Athens is considered to be the cradle of democracy.
Baghdad was the cradle of civilization.
starting point an idea, suggestion etc from which a discussion, process, or project can develop:
His paper provided an excellent starting point for discussion.
come from something to have developed from something that existed before:
The word origami comes from the Japanese ori (folding) and kami (paper).
Where did the idea for the book come from?
be based on something to use something else as the basis:
The film is based on a traditional Chinese story.
She later wrote a book based on her experiences in Africa.
originate to come from a particular place, group, or situation, especially one that existed a long time ago. Originate is more formal than come from:
The jewellery probably originates from Egypt.
Genes also tell us that native Americans originated from a small group of migrants who crossed the Bering land bridge from Siberia.
Christmas pudding is thought to have originated from a type of medieval porridge, which was made of meat, dried fruit, nuts, sugar and spices.
be founded on something to develop from an idea or belief:
Our system of government is founded on the principle of democracy.
derive from something/be derived from something to come from something, especially by means of a long or complicated process – often used about words coming from another language:
Much of the English language is derived from Latin.
Many drugs are derived from plants.
have its origins/roots in something to develop from something that existed long ago:
Halloween has its origins in an ancient Celtic festival.
Modern country and Western music has its roots in the folk songs of the rural south.
go back to something to come from a particular past time or event or from something that existed a long time ago:
Our friendship goes back to our freshman year in college.
The college goes back to the Middle Ages.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

river a line of water that flows into the sea:
They crossed the river by ferry.
the River Tweed
the Yangtze river
tributary a stream or river that flows into a larger river:
The River Trombetas is a tributary of the River Amazon.
estuary the wide part of a river where it goes into the sea:
plans to build a big new airport on the Thames estuary
canal a long passage dug into the ground and filled with water, either for boats to travel along, or to take water to a place:
Venice’s famous canals
a canal boat
delta an area of low land where a river spreads into many smaller rivers near the sea:
the Nile delta
stream a small narrow river:
a cool mountain stream
brook literary a small stream:
There was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks.
creek a narrow area of sea that goes into the land, or a small river:
The River Fal with its many creeks was a perfect place for smugglers.
The kids hunted for crabs in the muddy creek.
mouth the part of a river where it joins the sea:
Havre-Marat was a port at the mouth of the River Seine.
bank land along the side of a river:
the river bank
He owns a chateau on the banks of the River Loire.
source the place where a river or stream starts:
The source of the River Nile was discovered by a British explorer, John Speke.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲