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

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: ingenuity, adaptability

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

Other Word Forms

• resourceless adjective
• resourcelessness 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

The initiative, described as the largest marshaling of federal scientific resources since Apollo, will require significant computing power.

Read more on Barron's

Williams was also told that some trading desks are reluctant to borrow from the SRF because it diverts financial resources they could otherwise devote to trading with regular clients, the people said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"We are doing everything we can, but resources are scarce," said Ahmed al-Tegani, a volunteer doctor with the International Organization for Migration.

Read more on Barron's

This has led to schools needing to make cuts to support staff, teaching assistants, curriculum resources and enrichment.

Read more on BBC

The celebrations required that one student, selected randomly, bake a cake in honor of the nation’s authoritarian ruler — a task requiring time and resources prohibitive to much of the population.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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