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source

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

The noun source can also refer to information obtained from documents, such as books, letters, newspapers, and journals. For example, when you write a research paper, you read, paraphrase and quote from sources. A source can also be a place where you get things, like a certain store being your source for discount sneakers or something that provides, like oranges, a good source of Vitamin C.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: source

1
 nv
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
get (a product) from another country or business
2
 n
(technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system
3
 n
anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: source
1

n the place where something begins, where it springs into being

“Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River”
Synonyms:
beginning, origin, root, rootage
Types:
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derivation
the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues)
spring
a point at which water issues forth
fountainhead, head, headspring
the source of water from which a stream arises
headwater
the source of a river
wellhead, wellspring
the source of water for a well
jumping-off place, point of departure
a place from which an enterprise or expedition is launched
birthplace, cradle, place of origin, provenance, provenience
where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence
home
place where something began and flourished
point source
a concentrated source (especially of radiation or pollution) that is spatially constricted
trail head, trailhead
the beginning of a trail
Type of:
point
the precise location of something; a spatially limited location

n a facility where something is available

Types:
Golconda
a source of great wealth (especially a mine)
gold mine, goldmine
a good source of something that is desired
Type of:
facility, installation
a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry

n someone who originates or causes or initiates something

Synonyms:
author, generator
Types:
coiner
someone who is a source of new words or new expressions
Type of:
maker, shaper
a person who makes things

n a person who supplies information

Synonyms:
informant
Types:
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betrayer, blabber, informer, rat, squealer
one who reveals confidential information in return for money
leaker
a surreptitious informant
passive source
an informant who is not assigned to obtain specific intelligence but who routinely passes on whatever information he or she has
whistle blower, whistle-blower, whistleblower
an informant who exposes wrongdoing within an organization in the hope of stopping it
canary, fink, sneak, sneaker, snitch, snitcher, stool pigeon, stoolie, stoolpigeon
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
copper's nark, nark
an informer or spy working for the police
grass, supergrass
a police informer who implicates many people
Type of:
communicator
a person who communicates with others

n a document (or organization) from which information is obtained

“the reporter had two sources for the story”
Types:
source materials
publications from which information is obtained
fountainhead, well, wellspring
an abundant source
Type of:
document, papers, written document
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

n a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to

“he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation”
Synonyms:
reference
Type of:
publication
a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

n anything that provides inspiration for later work

Synonyms:
germ, seed
Types:
taproot
something that provides an important central source for growth or development
muse
the source of an artist's inspiration
Type of:
inspiration
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

v get (a product) from another country or business

“She sourced a supply of carpet”
“They are sourcing from smaller companies”
Types:
outsource
obtain goods or services from an outside supplier; to contract work out
Type of:
obtain
come into possession of

v specify the origin of

“The writer carefully sourced her report”
Type of:
document
support or supply with references
2

n (technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system

“a heat source”
“a source of carbon dioxide”
Antonyms:
sink
(technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system
Types:
origin
the source of something's existence or from which it derives or is derived
Type of:
action, activity, natural action, natural process
a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
3

n anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies

Synonyms:
reservoir
Type of:
thing
a separate and self-contained entity
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