I. ˈsȯrs noun
Etymology: Middle English sours, from Anglo-French surse spring, source, from past participle of surdre to rise, spring forth, from Latin surgere — more at surge
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a generative force : cause
b.
(1) : a point of origin or procurement : beginning
(2) : one that initiates : author ; also : prototype , model
(3) : one that supplies information
2.
a. : the point of origin of a stream of water : fountainhead
b. archaic : spring , fount
3. : a firsthand document or primary reference work
4. : an electrode in a field-effect transistor that supplies the charge carriers for current flow — compare drain , gate
Synonyms: see origin
• source·less -ləs adjective
II. transitive verb
( sourced ; sourc·ing )
Date: 1957
1. : to specify the source of (as quoted material)
2. : to obtain from a source
metals sourced from abroad
III. adjective
Date: 1959
: of, relating to, or being source code
a source file