Definition of source - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
waterplace where a stream or river begins
- We hiked to the source of the stream.
2.
originsorigin or starting point of something
- The source of the river is in the mountains.
3.
communicationperson or thing providing information
- The journalist protected her source's identity.
4.
technologyTECH. code written by a programmerTECH.
- The developer reviewed the source for errors.
Verb
1.
investigationtr. find the origin of information or a storytr.
- The journalist sourced the report to a government official.
2.
businesstr. TECH. obtain a product or material for businesstr. TECH.
- The company sources its materials from local suppliers.
3.
originintr. originate from a specific place or personintr.
- The rumor sourced from an anonymous tip.
Images of source

place where a stream or river begins
Expressions with source
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
nearer to the origin or starting point
The water is purer closer to the source.
take into account who is providing the information
When hearing criticism, always consider the source.
activity or asset that regularly brings money to a person or group
Her main source of income is a full-time job at the hospital.
thing that produces warmth or thermal energy for other objects
The sun is the main heat source for our planet.
thing that provides energy needed to start burning of material
Investigators searched the warehouse to identify the ignition source of the fire.
essential element for survival
Water is a crucial life source for humans and animals.
books, papers, or original objects consulted to learn facts
She listed archival letters and journal articles as her source materials.
cause or reason for disagreement or argument
The new policy became a source of conflict among the team members.
something that gives support or confidence
Her mentor was a constant source of encouragement during her studies.
something that provides support or power
Her family is her main source of strength during tough times.
origin of information known to be trustworthy and usually correct
The reporter confirmed the story with a second reliable source before publishing.
original document from which information is derived
The historian carefully examined the source document for authenticity.
place or provider from which money for projects or business activities comes
Bank loans are a common source of capital for small companies.
getting information from the original place
She got the news at source.
person with reliable knowledge who gives information
The article cited an informed source close to the investigation.
primary reference book for a specific subject
The source book on marine biology was essential for the course.
person or thing that gives new ideas or motivation
Her travels were a source of inspiration for her paintings.
alternative supplier or provider of information or materials
They turned to a second source when the primary supplier failed to deliver on time.
origin or provider of money used to support an activity or project
The main funding source for the program is a government grant.
person working for a state body who gives information to others
The article cited a government source who confirmed the policy change.
origin from which knowledge or data is obtained or collected
The report lists each information source used in the research.
secondary provider of information or material
The investigator interviewed the sub-source for more details.
origin where energy is obtained for use
Solar panels are an energy source for the house.
object or device that emits light
The lamp is a common light source in homes.
Origin of source
Latin, surgere (to rise)
Terms with source included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
light source
emit light or heat
origin
expresses origin or source
origin
derive from a particular source
source
to be obtained or derived from a source
energy source
operated or driven by a specified energy source
origin
the source or origin of something
education
source of knowledge or instruction
light source
stick of wax with a wick for light
electricity
join an electrical device to a power source
communication
coming from or going to a source without intermediaries
spring
natural source of water from the ground
entertainment
source of amusement or enjoyment
direction
from a source or origin
information
source of information or facts
starting point
origin or source of something
light source
intense light directed at a particular area
geography
natural source of water from the ground
source of danger
person or thing likely to cause damage or danger
wood source
trees grown for such wood
challenges
source of difficulty
environment
source of breathable air
derive
create something from an existing source or idea
powered device
powered by a battery as the energy source
illumination
visible stream of light from a source
Examples of source in a sentence
Scientists studied the source of the river for pollution. The source of the rumor was traced back to an anonymous tip. Historians debated the source of the ancient manuscript. The book cited an anonymous source for its claims. He became a trusted source for the latest industry news. She spent hours debugging the source to improve performance.
The open-source community contributed to the source extensively. She sourced the rumor to a local blog. The detective sourced the leak to an insider. They decided to source new fabrics for the collection. We need to source more eco-friendly packaging options. The idea sourced from a brainstorming session. The design sourced from a famous architect's work.
View all translations of source
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:source, retracer, ...
- German:Quelle, recherchieren, ...
- Italian:sorgente, rintracciare, ...
- Spanish:fuente, atribuir, ...
- Portuguese:nascente, atribuir a uma fonte, ...
- Chinese:源头, 追溯, ...
- Japanese:源, 突き止める, ...
- Arabic:مَنْبَع, عَزا, ...
- Hebrew:מָקוֹר, לְאַתֵּר, ...
- Russian:исток, установить источник, ...
- Ukrainian:витік, знайти, ...
- Hindi:उद्गम, पता लगाना, ...

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