Source
/sɔːrs/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe origin or starting point of something; a place, person, or thing that provides information or material.
/sɔːrs/
A place, person, or thing from which something comes or is obtained.
The library is a great source of information.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing detective. The source is like the clue or the starting point of your investigation. It’s where things come from, like where a river gets its water or where you get information for a school project. For example, The source of the story was a reliable witness.
👶 For kids: A source is like where something comes from! Like, the source of your toys is probably a store!
More Examples
The company has multiple sources of revenue.
The sun is the primary source of energy for Earth.
How It's Used
"The journalist cited a reliable source for the information."
"The source of the river is in the mountains."
To find or obtain something from a particular source.
/sɔːrs/
To obtain something from a particular place, person, or thing.
The company sources its supplies from local farmers.
💡 Simply: When you source something, you're finding where it comes from. Like, when you are sourcing information for a report, you are trying to discover the source of the news. For instance, They sourced the information from the internet.
👶 For kids: When you source something, you are finding where it comes from, like finding the source of yummy pizza toppings!
More Examples
The report sourced its data from credible research papers.
They are sourcing the parts from a factory.
How It's Used
"The company sources its materials from overseas."
"The researchers sourced data from multiple databases."
Synonyms
Beginning
Genesis
Origin
Resource
Acquire
Find
Gather
Obtain
Procure
Idioms & expressions
go to the source
To go to the original place or person from which something comes, especially to get information.
"If you want to know the truth, go to the source and ask."
From Old French *sourdre* 'to rise, spring forth' (12th c.), from Latin *surgere* 'to rise'. Initially referred to a spring of water.
Historically used to refer to the origin of a spring of water, later extended to refer to any origin or starting point.
Memory tip
Think of the source of a river - where it starts.