source

(noun) the place where something begins, where it springs into being. Synonyms: beginning, origin, root, rootage. Examples: "The italian beginning of the renaissance." "Jupiter was the origin of the radiation." "Pittsburgh is the source of the ohio river." "Communism's russian root."

(noun) a document (or organization) from which information is obtained. Examples: "The reporter had two sources for the story."

(noun) anything that provides inspiration for later work. Synonyms: seed, germ.

(noun) a facility where something is available.

(noun) a person who supplies information. Synonyms: informant.

(noun) someone who originates or causes or initiates something. Synonyms: generator, author. Examples: "He was the generator of several complaints."

(noun) (technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system. Examples: "A heat source." "A source of carbon dioxide."

(noun) anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies. Synonyms: reservoir. Examples: "An infectious agent depends on a reservoir for its survival."

(noun) a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to. Synonyms: reference. Examples: "He carried an armful of references back to his desk." "He spent hours looking for the source of that quotation."

(verb) get (a product) from another country or business. Examples: "She sourced a supply of carpet." "They are sourcing from smaller companies."

(verb) specify the origin of. Examples: "The writer carefully sourced her report."