1
general::
noun time/place/reason that sth starts ADJ. common | doubtful, obscure, unknown a letter of doubtful origin | true | ancient, early, primitive | recent The term ‘black hole’ is of very recent origin. | immediate The development had its immediate origins in discussions with management. | African, English, etc. | foreign | local | mixed | natural | supernatural | environmental, geographical, historical, intellectual | animal, human, mineral, plant, vegetable foods of animal origin We shouldn't forget our animal origins. VERB + ORIGIN have, share The vases share common origins. | investigate, trace | owe Population genetics owes its origin to Francis Galton. | explain | reflect ORIGIN + VERB go back to sth, lie in sth The origins of Gdansk go back to the tenth century. PREP. in ~ The rock is volcanic in origin. | of … ~ a painting of unknown origin PHRASES sth's country of origin Bottles are labelled by country of origin. | have its origin in sth The dispute had its origin in the Battle of Wakefield. family, race, class, etc, that a person comes from ADJ. African, English, etc. | foreign | mixed | class, ethnic, national, racial, social | middle-class, noble, peasant, slave, working-class | humble, lowly He had risen from humble origins through hard work. VERB + ORIGIN trace Their family can trace its origins back to the Norman Conquest. | betray Her accent betrayed her working-class origins. PREP. by ~ He is a Londoner by origin. | in ~ Her family is Portuguese in origin. | of … ~ He was of lowly origins. PHRASES sb's country of origin
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
where something comes from
origin/origins
the place or situation in which something begins to exist:
• the origins of the conflict in the Middle East • The book explains the origin of words. • Her disability is genetic in origin .
source
the thing, place etc that you get something from:
• They get their money from various sources. • Beans are a good source of protein.
root
the root of a problem is the main cause. The roots of something are the things that it was originally based on:
• Allergies are at the root of a lot of health problems. • At the root of the crisis was a shortage of hard cash. • They want a return to the roots of Christianity. • Reggae has its roots in a range of different musical styles.
the birthplace of something
the place where something first started to exist:
• New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. • Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee
the cradle of something
the place where something important first started – used mainly in the following phrases:
• Ancient Athens is considered to be the cradle of democracy . • Baghdad was the cradle of civilization .
starting point
an idea, suggestion etc from which a discussion, process, or project can develop:
• His paper provided an excellent starting point for discussion.
to come from something or somewhere
come from something
to have developed from something that existed before:
• The word origami comes from the Japanese ori (folding) and kami (paper). • Where did the idea for the book come from?
be based on something
to use something else as the basis:
• The film is based on a traditional Chinese story. • She later wrote a book based on her experiences in Africa.
originate
to come from a particular place, group, or situation, especially one that existed a long time ago. Originate is more formal than come from:
• The jewellery probably originates from Egypt. • Genes also tell us that native Americans originated from a small group of migrants who crossed the Bering land bridge from Siberia. • Christmas pudding is thought to have originated from a type of medieval porridge, which was made of meat, dried fruit, nuts, sugar and spices.
be founded on something
to develop from an idea or belief:
• Our system of government is founded on the principle of democracy.
derive from something/be derived from something
to come from something, especially by means of a long or complicated process – often used about words coming from another language:
• Much of the English language is derived from Latin. • Many drugs are derived from plants.
have its origins/roots in something
to develop from something that existed long ago:
• Halloween has its origins in an ancient Celtic festival. • Modern country and Western music has its roots in the folk songs of the rural south.
go back to something
to come from a particular past time or event or from something that existed a long time ago:
• Our friendship goes back to our freshman year in college. • The college goes back to the Middle Ages.
Longman-Thesaurus
4
general::
origin
adjectives
a common origin
(= a place or situation in which different things all started to exist )
• It may be that all life on Earth has a common origin.
of recent origin
(= having started to exist only a short time ago )
• This particular theory is of very recent origin.
of unknown origin
(= used to say that no one knows where, when, or how something started )
• an ancient folk tale of unknown origin
of doubtful origin
(= unknown and possibly suspicious )
• The fire was still being treated as of doubtful origin.
sth’s historical/geographical/political etc origins
• This type of story has its historical origins in eighteenth century gothic novels. • the geographical origins of the plant
verbs
have its origin in something
(= begin to exist )
• The ceremony has its origins in medieval times.
trace its origins to something
(= used to say that something can find evidence that it began to exist at a particular time or in a particular place )
• The Roman Catholic Church traces its origins back to the 4th century.
trace the origin of something
(= find where, when etc something began to exist )
• It’s difficult to trace the origin of some words.
sth’s origins lie in something
(= something comes from a particular place or or develops from a particular situation )
• a grape whose origins lie in northern Italy • The technique’s origins lie in the popular arts of the time.
sth’s origins go back to something
(= used to say when or how something began )
• The school’s origins go back to the 12th century.
investigate the origin of something
(= try to find out where, when etc something began to exist )
• researchers investigating the origin of AIDS
phrase
the country/place of origin
(= the country or place where something is made or produced )
• The rugs are somewhat cheaper in their country of origin.
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