Skip to main content

sourcea place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained

Pronunciation (IPA): /sɔːrs/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother is my best source of embarrassing childhood stories.
  • Wikipedia is not always a credible source for academic papers.
  • The detective finally found the source of the mysterious smell - a forgotten sandwich in the desk drawer.

source

NOUN

[/sɔːrs/]

a place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained

The river's source was hidden high in the mountains.
💡 Concept

The river's source was hidden high in the mountains.

Scientists tried to discover the source of the mysterious signal. (START + ORIGIN = SOURCE)
🧠 Mnemonic

Scientists tried to discover the source of the mysterious signal. (START + ORIGIN = SOURCE)

The source changed the course and created a powerful force.
🎵 Rhyme

The source changed the course and created a powerful force.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/sɔːrs/
🇬🇧 UK/sɔːs/

🌳Etymology

Rootsour-
Suffix--ce

Origin

From Old French 'source' meaning 'spring' or 'fountain', derived from Latin 'surgere' meaning 'to rise' or 'to spring up'. The word originally referred to the point where water emerges from the ground.

Breakdown

Latin 'surgere' (to rise, to spring up) → Old French 'source' (spring, fountain) → English 'source' (origin point, place from which something comes)

🎵Rhyme

courseforcehorsedivorce
course
force
horse
divorce

🔗Collocations

reliable source
energy source
water source
source code
source of income
cite sources
news source

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother is my best source of embarrassing childhood stories.

Wikipedia is not always a credible source for academic papers.

😄 Fun example

The detective finally found the source of the mysterious smell - a forgotten sandwich in the desk drawer.

Solar panels convert sunlight into a clean energy source.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

originbeginningrootfoundationwellspring

Antonyms

destinationendresult

Related

resourcesupplyreferencefountainspring

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.