Meaning & Definition of Original in English
English⟶
Original
/ərɪʤənəl/
noun
1. An original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
synonym:
- master,
- master copy,
- original
2. Something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies
- "This painting is a copy of the original"
synonym:
- original,
- archetype,
- pilot
adjective
1. Preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
- "The original inhabitants of the americas"
- "The book still has its original binding"
- "Restored the house to its original condition"
- "The original performance of the opera"
- "The original cast"
- "Retracted his original statement"
synonym:
- original
2. (of e.g. information) not secondhand or by way of something intermediary
- "His work is based on only original, not secondary, sources"
synonym:
- original
3. Being or productive of something fresh and unusual
- Or being as first made or thought of
- "A truly original approach"
- "With original music"
- "An original mind"
synonym:
- original
4. Not derived or copied or translated from something else
- "The play is original
- Not an adaptation"
- "He kept the original copy and gave her only a xerox"
- "The translation misses much of the subtlety of the original french"
synonym:
- original
Examples of using
The history of some words is a real masterpiece. For instance, kaput. The original word was the Latin "caput" - "a head"; and the way from "a head" to "the end of everything" is rather long.
It's difficult to tell an original from a fake.
Tom prides himself on having read the original "À la recherche des temps perdu" all the way through.