Origin
noun
The point or place where something begins or is created.
The story has its origin in a real event.
Often appears as...
- origin of species
- origin of the universe
noun
A person's social background or ancestry.
She is of Chinese origin.
Often appears as...
- of unknown origin
- of humble origin
noun
A fixed point from which coordinates are measured in a geometric or other system.
The origin of the coordinate system is at the center of the sphere.
Often appears as...
- coordinate origin
- origin of the axes
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The first stage of existence or the earliest version of something.
The documents were of sixteenth-century origin.
Often appears as...
- origin of life
- origin of humanity
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The point or place where something begins or is created.
The story has its origin in a real event.
Often appears as...
- origin of species
- origin of the universe
noun
A person's social background or ancestry.
She is of Chinese origin.
Often appears as...
- of unknown origin
- of humble origin
noun
A fixed point from which coordinates are measured in a geometric or other system.
The origin of the coordinate system is at the center of the sphere.
Often appears as...
- coordinate origin
- origin of the axes
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The first stage of existence or the earliest version of something.
The documents were of sixteenth-century origin.
Often appears as...
- origin of life
- origin of humanity
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Geographical Roots
Refers to the specific location where something started, like a tradition or idea.
Pizza has its origin in Naples, Italy.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Reference
Understand it may refer to parts of culture, such as cuisine, clothing, or dance.
The kimono has an origin deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
Pro Tip 1/2Geographical Roots
Refers to the specific location where something started, like a tradition or idea.
Pizza has its origin in Naples, Italy.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Reference
Understand it may refer to parts of culture, such as cuisine, clothing, or dance.
The kimono has an origin deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
Pro Tip 1/2Geographical Roots
Refers to the specific location where something started, like a tradition or idea.
Pizza has its origin in Naples, Italy.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Reference
Understand it may refer to parts of culture, such as cuisine, clothing, or dance.
The kimono has an origin deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
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Video examples
How languages evolve -...
Linguistics can even reveal other important historical clues, such as determining the geographic origins and lifestyles of ancient peoples based on which of their words were native, and which were borrowed. There are two main problems linguists face when constructing these language family trees.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
developed in Plato's other dialogues, which holds that like the shadows on the wall, things in the physical world are flawed reflections of ideal forms, such as roundness, or beauty. In this way, the cave leads to many fundamental questions, including the origin of knowledge,
Video examples
Fred Jansen: How to land...
To escort and land the probe on a comet, this has been my passion for the past two years. In order to do that, I need to explain to you something about the origin of the solar system. When we go back four and a half billion years, there was a cloud of gas and dust.
Video examples
What really happens to...
which are washed and melted, so they become the raw materials that can be used again. As if by magic, bottle three is now ready to be reborn as something completely new. For this bit of plastic with such humble origins, suddenly the sky is the limit.
Video examples
What is the Heisenberg...
from literary criticism to sports commentary. Uncertainty is often explained as a result of measurement, that the act of measuring an object's position changes its speed, or vice versa. The real origin is much deeper and more amazing.
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds but the fossils show something else these animals all died sitting on their nests
Video examples
The science of...
other words of friendships yes they started calling them that and here's why because what mattered most was the quality of the bonds not their origin not whether it was relatives or not what mattered were bonds that were stable
Video examples
Ferocious Dinosaur...
young are more likely to survive it now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still
Video examples
Oviraptorid Defends Her...
It now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs. It's a behaviour that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds.
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
to the largest galaxies, to the very existence of space, time, and life. But how did it all begin? The origin of the universe is the origin of everything.
Video examples
How languages evolve -...
Linguistics can even reveal other important historical clues, such as determining the geographic origins and lifestyles of ancient peoples based on which of their words were native, and which were borrowed. There are two main problems linguists face when constructing these language family trees.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
developed in Plato's other dialogues, which holds that like the shadows on the wall, things in the physical world are flawed reflections of ideal forms, such as roundness, or beauty. In this way, the cave leads to many fundamental questions, including the origin of knowledge,
Video examples
Fred Jansen: How to land...
To escort and land the probe on a comet, this has been my passion for the past two years. In order to do that, I need to explain to you something about the origin of the solar system. When we go back four and a half billion years, there was a cloud of gas and dust.
Video examples
What really happens to...
which are washed and melted, so they become the raw materials that can be used again. As if by magic, bottle three is now ready to be reborn as something completely new. For this bit of plastic with such humble origins, suddenly the sky is the limit.
Video examples
What is the Heisenberg...
from literary criticism to sports commentary. Uncertainty is often explained as a result of measurement, that the act of measuring an object's position changes its speed, or vice versa. The real origin is much deeper and more amazing.
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds but the fossils show something else these animals all died sitting on their nests
Video examples
The science of...
other words of friendships yes they started calling them that and here's why because what mattered most was the quality of the bonds not their origin not whether it was relatives or not what mattered were bonds that were stable
Video examples
Ferocious Dinosaur...
young are more likely to survive it now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still
Video examples
Oviraptorid Defends Her...
It now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs. It's a behaviour that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds.
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
to the largest galaxies, to the very existence of space, time, and life. But how did it all begin? The origin of the universe is the origin of everything.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ravi Zacharias
American Author
When you think of it, really there are four fundamental questions of life. You've asked them, I've asked them, every thinking person asks them. They boil down to this; origin, meaning, morality and destiny. 'How did I come into being? What brings life meaning? How do I know right from wrong? Where am I headed after I die?
Quote examples
Nick Cave
Australian Musician
There's an element to songwriting that I can't explain, that comes from somewhere else. I can't explain that dividing line between nothing and something that happens within a song, where you have absolutely nothing, and then suddenly you have something. It's like the origin of the universe.
Quote examples
Huma Qureshi
Indian Actress
A lot of issues that we have in the world today rise from the fact that we do not know enough about each other's cultures, that we don't respect each other's origins and there is so much negativity and strife around because we don't know where the other person is coming from.
Quote examples
Harry Bridges
American Activist
Neither, I must say with all due respect, is it the power of teachers and students. Basically the true and real power is with working people of all colors, of all beliefs, of all national origins.
Quote examples
Roger Ebert
American Critic
Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers.
Quote examples
John Newton
American Clergyman
Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end.
Quote examples
Paula Pell
American Writer
I think women are taking charge of the origins of a production, which is the most important part. Because you can't be a victim of whatever people ask you to do.
Quote examples
Paul McEuen
American Physicist
The lessons learned as we try to build ever more sophisticated nanomachines will almost certainly inform our understanding of the origins of life.
Quote examples
Jack Williamson
American Writer
I have a vast curiosity about our universe, our origins, and its probable future.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
Something pretty mysterious had to give rise to the origin of the universe.
Quote examples
Ravi Zacharias
American Author
When you think of it, really there are four fundamental questions of life. You've asked them, I've asked them, every thinking person asks them. They boil down to this; origin, meaning, morality and destiny. 'How did I come into being? What brings life meaning? How do I know right from wrong? Where am I headed after I die?
Quote examples
Nick Cave
Australian Musician
There's an element to songwriting that I can't explain, that comes from somewhere else. I can't explain that dividing line between nothing and something that happens within a song, where you have absolutely nothing, and then suddenly you have something. It's like the origin of the universe.
Quote examples
Huma Qureshi
Indian Actress
A lot of issues that we have in the world today rise from the fact that we do not know enough about each other's cultures, that we don't respect each other's origins and there is so much negativity and strife around because we don't know where the other person is coming from.
Quote examples
Harry Bridges
American Activist
Neither, I must say with all due respect, is it the power of teachers and students. Basically the true and real power is with working people of all colors, of all beliefs, of all national origins.
Quote examples
Roger Ebert
American Critic
Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers.
Quote examples
John Newton
American Clergyman
Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end.
Quote examples
Paula Pell
American Writer
I think women are taking charge of the origins of a production, which is the most important part. Because you can't be a victim of whatever people ask you to do.
Quote examples
Paul McEuen
American Physicist
The lessons learned as we try to build ever more sophisticated nanomachines will almost certainly inform our understanding of the origins of life.
Quote examples
Jack Williamson
American Writer
I have a vast curiosity about our universe, our origins, and its probable future.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
Something pretty mysterious had to give rise to the origin of the universe.
Example 1 of 10
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