- origin
- noun1 time/place/reason that sth startsADJECTIVE▪ common▪ independent▪ doubtful (esp. BrE), obscure, unknown▪
a letter of doubtful origin
▪ true▪ ancient, early▪ recent▪The term ‘carbon footprint’ is of very recent origin.
▪ immediate▪The development had its immediate origins in discussions with management.
▪ African, English, etc.▪ foreign▪ local▪ mixed▪ natural▪ supernatural▪ evolutionary, geographical, historical, intellectual▪ animal, human, plant▪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▪ suggest▪The name suggests a possible African origin.
ORIGIN + VERB▪ go back to sth, lie in sth▪The origins of the city go back to the 10th century.
PREPOSITION▪ in origin▪The rock is volcanic in origin.
▪ of … origin▪a painting of unknown origin
PHRASES▪ country of origin, place of origin▪The label tells you the country of origin.
▪ have its origin in sth▪The custom has its origin in an ancient festival.
2 family, race, class, etc, that a person comes fromADJECTIVE▪ 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.
PREPOSITION▪ by origin▪He is a Londoner by origin.
▪ in origin▪Her family is Portuguese in origin.
▪ of … origin▪He was of humble origins.
PHRASES▪ sb's country of origin
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
