noun / verb
cause
KAWZ/kɔːz/
Something that brings about or gives grounds for an event or action.
The baseball causes the window to break.
Etymology
Latin causa covered a reason or grounds for action. English extended that idea from a motive for acting to the source of an effect—what makes something happen; the Latin word’s earlier origin is unknown.
In context
what is an origin and cause investigation and why do we have them investigators need to come in and determine where the fire originated what caused the fire
More examples
- We found the cause of the noise.
- What caused the delay?
- There is no cause for alarm.
Forms
cause · causes · caused · causing
Similar words
- source
- Emphasizes where an effect originates.