origin

/ˈɒrɪdʒɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔːrɪdʒɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯr-ə-jən ˈär-/ (ame, mw)

origin — noun

  • originsingular
  • originsplural

1. the first point of something, or the thing that makes it begin

1.名詞B2
釋義

the first point of something, or the thing that makes it begin

例句

Police traced the fire's origin to a broken heater upstairs.

trace the origin to

No one knows the true origin of the strange mark on Mars.

origin of + noun

同義詞
  • source

    often points more directly to where something comes from

  • beginning

    focuses on the first stage in time, not always the cause

  • cause

    is narrower and stresses the reason something happened

  • root

    often suggests a deeper underlying cause or background

文法句型

the origin of something

trace the origin to something

debate the origin of life

用法筆記

Common in patterns like the origin of the fire and trace the origin to a place or cause. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the actual starting point or cause, not the type of source something has.

常見錯誤

❌Police found the origin from the fire in the kitchen.
✅Police found the origin of the fire in the kitchen.
💡Use origin of for the thing that began.

2. the kind of source or beginning something has, especially when it is described a

2.名詞
釋義

the kind of source or beginning something has, especially when it is described as human, recent, or unknown

例句

These cave marks are of human origin, not wind or rain.

be of + adjective + origin

This custom is of recent origin and spread online quickly.

be of recent origin

同義詞
  • source

    a broader word that can name the actual place or thing something comes from

  • background

    is looser and often used for general surrounding facts

  • provenance

    is more formal and is especially common for objects or art

文法句型

be of unknown origin

be of recent origin

be of human origin

用法筆記

Usually appears after be in the pattern of + adjective or noun + origin. Distinguish from sense 1, which gives the actual cause or starting point, and from senses 3 to 5, which narrow the meaning to birthplace, product source, or family background.

常見錯誤

❌The message was unknown origin.
✅The message was of unknown origin.
💡This fixed pattern needs of before origin.

3. the place where a person first came into the world

3.名詞C1
釋義

the place where a person first came into the world

例句

The passport lists Nora's place of origin as Hualien.

place of origin as + place

The form asks for name, age, and place of origin.

place of origin

同義詞
  • birthplace

    the clearest direct synonym in everyday English

  • native place

    is more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • hometown

    can differ because it may mean the place someone grew up, not where they were born

文法句型

place of origin

know somebody's origin

list a person's origin

用法筆記

Often appears in official forms, museum labels, or short biographies. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense is about where a person was born, not their family or social background.

常見錯誤

❌My origin is Taiwanese.
✅My place of origin is Chiayi.
💡This sense names a place, not a nationality adjective.

4. the place where a product or other object was made

4.名詞B2
釋義

the place where a product or other object was made

例句

The box shows the phone's origin as Vietnam.

origin as + place

Buyers often ask the shopkeeper about the coffee's origin.

ask about the coffee's origin

同義詞
  • source

    is broader and can refer to people, places, or materials

  • provenance

    is formal and especially used for art, antiques, or valuable goods

  • place of manufacture

    is exact but more technical

文法句型

country of origin

check the origin of goods

the product's origin

用法筆記

Used mainly for goods, food, materials, and trade documents. Distinguish from sense 1: here origin points to the manufacturing or producing place, not the reason something began.

常見錯誤

❌This toy is of China origin.
✅This toy is of Chinese origin.
💡In this pattern, use an adjective such as Chinese, not the place name alone.

5. the family, class, or ethnic background a person comes from

5.名詞
釋義

the family, class, or ethnic background a person comes from

例句

Though of humble origin, Rosa became the town's mayor.

of humble origin

The actress spoke openly about her working-class origin.

working-class origin

同義詞
  • ancestry

    focuses more strongly on family line through earlier generations

  • heritage

    often includes culture and traditions as well as family background

  • background

    is broader and can include education or life experience too

  • roots

    is informal and often used emotionally or figuratively

文法句型

of humble origin

of noble origin

working-class origin

用法筆記

Often follows adjectives or class labels such as humble, noble, working-class, or Irish. Distinguish from sense 3: a person can have one birthplace but a different family origin.

常見錯誤

❌Leo is of Taipei origin.
✅Leo is of working-class origin.
💡This sense is about family or social background, not birthplace.

6. the place where a muscle is joined on the side that stays still during movement

6.名詞
釋義

the place where a muscle is joined on the side that stays still during movement

例句

The chart marks the arm muscle's origin near the shoulder.

arm muscle's origin

In class, Dr. Lin explained the muscle's origin and insertion.

origin and insertion

同義詞
  • attachment point

    a plain descriptive phrase, not a technical one-word label

  • anchoring end

    explains the idea in simple terms rather than anatomy terminology

文法句型

muscle origin

origin and insertion

the origin of the biceps

用法筆記

Anatomy term often taught with insertion. The origin is the less movable attachment; the insertion is the end that moves more.

常見錯誤

❌The insertion is the fixed end of the muscle.
✅The origin is the fixed end of the muscle.
💡In anatomy, origin names the less movable attachment.