First Known Use: circa 1611
Dictionary
resource
noun re·source \ˈrē-ˌsȯrs, -ˌzȯrs, ri-ˈ\
: something that a country has and can use to increase its wealth
: a supply of something (such as money) that someone has and can use when it is needed
: a place or thing that provides something useful
Full Definition of RESOURCE
1
a : a source of supply or support : an available means —usually used in plural b : a natural source of wealth or revenue —often used in plural c : a natural feature or phenomenon that enhances the quality of human life d : computable wealth —usually used in plural e : a source of information or expertise
2
: something to which one has recourse in difficulty : expedient
3
: a possibility of relief or recovery
4
: a means of spending one's leisure time
5
: an ability to meet and handle a situation : resourcefulness
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Origin of RESOURCE
French ressource, from Old French ressourse relief, resource, from resourdre to relieve, literally, to rise again, from Latin resurgere — more at resurrection
Synonym Discussion of RESOURCE
resource, resort, expedient, shift, makeshift, stopgap mean something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply. resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon <exhausted all of their resources> <a last resort>. expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible <a flimsy expedient>. shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient <desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure>. makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference <old equipment employed as a makeshift>. stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure <a new law intended only as a stopgap>.
Rhymes with RESOURCE
clotheshorse, concourse, crash course, dark horse, dawn horse, dead horse, deforce, discourse, divorce, dray horse, endorse, enforce, extrorse, golf course, gut course, high horse, introrse, iron horse, midcourse, of course, Old Norse, one-horse, packhorse, perforce, post-horse, racecourse, racehorse, recourse, redhorse, remorse, retrorse, sawhorse, sea horse, stringcourse, trial horse, unhorse, warhorse, wheelhorse, Whitehorse, workhorse
RESOURCE Defined for Kids
resource
noun re·source \ˈrē-ˌsȯrs\
Definition of RESOURCE for Kids
1
resources plural : a usable stock or supply (as of money or products)
2
3
: the ability to meet and deal with situations
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