sɔ:s n. & v. --n. 1 a
spring or fountain-head
from which a
stream issues (the sources of
the Nile). 2 a
place,
person, or
thing from which
something originates (the source of
all our troubles). 3 a person or
document etc.
providing evidence (reliable sources of
information;
historical source material). 4 a a
body emitting
radiation etc. b
Physics a place from which a
fluid or
current flows. c
Electronics a
part of a
transistor from which carriers
flow into the interelectrode channel. --v.tr.
obtain (esp. components) from a specified source. øat source at the
point of
origin or
issue. source-criticism the evaluation of
different,
esp.
successive,
literary or historical sources. [ME f. OF sors, sourse,
past part. of sourdre
rise f. L surgere]