English Dictionary

Definition of “origin

origin (ˈɒrɪdʒɪnPronunciation for origin

Definitions

noun

  1. a primary source; derivation
  2. the beginning of something; first stage or part
  3. (often plural) ancestry or parentage; birth; extraction
  4. anatomy 
    1. the end of a muscle, opposite its point of insertion
    2. the beginning of a nerve or blood vessel or the site where it first starts to branch out
  5. mathematics 
    1. the point of intersection of coordinate axes or planes
    2. the point whose coordinates are all zero See also pole2 (sense 8)
  6. business the country from which a commodity or product originates  ⇒ shipment from origin 

Word Origin

C16: from French origine,  from Latin orīgō  beginning, birth, from orīrī to rise, spring from

Translations

  • British English: origin Pronunciation for origin You can refer to the beginning, cause, or source of something as its origin or its origins.Scientists study the origin of life on Earth.ˈɒrɪdʒɪn NOUN Scientists study the origin of life on Earth.
  • Spanish: origen Pronunciation for origen nm
  • French: origine Pronunciation for origine nf
  • German: Ursprung Pronunciation for Ursprung nm Ursprünge
  • Chinese: 起源Pronunciation for 起源 n
  • Arabic: أصْلٌPronunciation for أصْلٌ n
  • Portuguese: origemPronunciation for origem nf
  • Russian: происхождениеPronunciation for происхождение nnt
  • Croatian: porijekloPronunciation for porijeklo nm
  • Czech: původPronunciation for původ nm
  • Danish: oprindelsePronunciation for oprindelse nutr
  • Dutch: oorsprongPronunciation for oorsprong nm
  • Finnish: alkuperäPronunciation for alkuperä n
  • Greek: προέλευσηPronunciation for προέλευση nf
  • Italian: originePronunciation for origine nf
  • Japanese: 起源Pronunciation for 起源 n
  • Korean: 근원Pronunciation for 근원 n
  • Norwegian: opprinnelsePronunciation for opprinnelse nm
  • Polish: zaczątekPronunciation for zaczątek nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: origemPronunciation for origem nf
  • European Spanish: origen Pronunciation for origen nm
  • Swedish: ursprungPronunciation for ursprung nnt
  • Thai: จุดกำเหนิดPronunciation for จุดกำเหนิด n
  • Turkish: kaynakPronunciation for kaynak adj
  • Vietnamese: nguồn gốcPronunciation for nguồn gốc n

Usage examples

  • She'd been appalled, this evening, to learn of their origin.
    Fraser, Anthea, Pretty Maids all in a Row (1986)
  • On its last pass by the inner moon Amalthea in November 2002, Galileo saw nine bright objects whose size and origin are still a mystery.
    New Scientist (2003)
  • But her flirtation with a friend of Marina's helps mitigate the disappointment before she heads to Greece, the origin of bathing culture.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • The other two are Spaniards of "Hindu" origin , minister Angel Acebes said.
    Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2004)
  • In fact, this may even be the evolutionary origin of the placebo response.
    Dylan Evans, PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)

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