1. the place where something begins, where it springs into being

e.g. the Italian beginning of the Renaissance
Jupiter was the origin of the radiation
Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River
communism's Russian root

Synonym: beginningoriginrootsource

2. a developed system of roots

Synonym: root system

3. fixedness by or as if by roots

e.g. strengthened by rootage in the firm soil of faith