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resource
/ˈriːsɔːrs/
available supply of materials or assets
The company has limited financial resources.
This means the company has a restricted amount of money available.
general
An available supply of something that can be used or drawn upon when needed.
Natural resources like water and timber are essential for many industries.
These materials from nature are crucial for manufacturing and other sectors.
Time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.
Time is something precious that should be used wisely.
The term can refer to tangible assets (like materials) or intangible ones (like time or knowledge).
general
A person or thing that provides help or support.
She is a great resource for information about local history.
She knows a lot about local history and can provide useful details.
This usage emphasizes the supportive role of a person or tool.
Collocations
natural resourcematerials provided by nature, such as minerals or forestshuman resourceemployees or personnel in an organizationtime resourcethe amount of time available for a task
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'resource' can vary widely depending on the context. Pay attention to whether it refers to materials, people, or time.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
While 'resource' is versatile, overusing it in formal writing can make text repetitive. Use synonyms like 'asset' or 'supply' for variety.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'ressource' (means 'aid, help') from Old French 'resourdre' (means 'to rise again'), from Latin 'resurgere' (means 'to rise again').
Usage Notes
In business contexts, 'resource' often refers to employees (e.g., 'human resources'). In environmental contexts, it refers to natural materials.
Word Breakdown
re-
again
prefix-source
origin or supply
rootEnglish Dictionary