source

a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to

“he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation”

specify the origin of

“The writer carefully sourced her report”

a process by which energy or a substance enters a system

“a heat source”

someone who originates or causes or initiates something

anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

“Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River”

anything that provides inspiration for later work

a person who supplies information

a document (or organization) from which information is obtained

“the reporter had two sources for the story”

a facility where something is available

get (a product) from another country or business

“She sourced a supply of carpet”