resource

[ ree-sawrs, -sohrs, -zawrs, -zohrs, ri-sawrs, -sohrs, -zawrs, -zohrs ]

noun

1. a source of supply, support, or aid, especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.

   Synonyms: service, help, assistance, support, aid

2. resources, the collective wealth of a country or its means of producing wealth.
3. Usually resources. money, or any property that can be converted into money; assets.

   Synonyms: riches, deep pockets, property, money, funds, cash, capital, wealth

4. Often resources. an available means afforded by the mind or one's personal capabilities:

   to have resource against loneliness.

5. an action or measure to which one may have recourse in an emergency; expedient.

   Synonyms: device, shift, resort, recourse, means, contrivance

6. capability in dealing with a situation or in meeting difficulties:

   a woman of resource.

   Synonyms: adaptability, ingenuity

resource

/ -ˈsɔːs; rɪˈzɔːs /

noun

1. capability, ingenuity, and initiative; quick-wittedness

   a man of resource

2. often plural a source of economic wealth, esp of a country (mineral, land, labour, etc) or business enterprise (capital, equipment, personnel, etc)
3. a supply or source of aid or support; something resorted to in time of need
4. a means of doing something; expedient

Derived Forms

• reˈsourceless, adjective
• reˈsourcelessness, noun

Other Words From

• re·sourceless adjective
• re·sourceless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resource¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French ressource, Old French ressourse, noun derivative of resourdre “to rise up,” from Latin resurgere, equivalent to re- re- + surgere “to rise up, lift”; resurge, source

Word History and Origins

Origin of resource¹

C17: from Old French ressourse relief, from resourdre to rise again, from Latin resurgere , from re- + surgere to rise

Example Sentences

What’s more, it can use up precious resources on these devices if they can even support a software agent.

From TechCrunch

The National Guard is designed to come in when all other resources are exhausted.

From ProPublica

For faster loading, Google recommends better server response times, less render-blocking JS and CSS, and faster resource loading.

From Search Engine Land

The city’s not only overlooking the Mission Valley aquifer water as a resource – it’s planning to build a multibillion-dollar water purification project called Pure Water right over it.

From Voice of San Diego

Information on these resources will be available via a centralized hub for parents.

From Fortune

We fight over their ownership and control, as if reality were a resource as scarce as the water and oil in Mad Max.

From The Daily Beast

She views music and pop culture as a resource for people to figure out where we are as a society.

From The Daily Beast

For those in the resource world, every ton of junk that goes into a landfill represents wasted energy.

From The Daily Beast

The loss of authenticity is equal to loss of the whole site as a cultural resource—its entire DNA is altered.

From The Daily Beast

And he used that resource to its fullest 128 years ago this week.

From The Daily Beast

It occurred to him then, for the first time, that a third resource was open—he might cut the rope, and let the kite go free!

From Project Gutenberg

Not less so is the barrenness of this country, which was formerly and usually the last resource.

From Project Gutenberg

During these hours of leisure, the most agreeable in a Mohammedan woman's life, the pipe is their constant resource.

From Project Gutenberg

"As a last resource your good advice may guide me, Monsieur le Seneschal," said he.

From Project Gutenberg

He realized for the first time what a prop and resource the deep maturity and scornful strength of his mother had been.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ability
• capability
• capital
• means
• property
• reserve
• source
• support
• system
• talent
• wealth