open-source

[oh-puhn-sawrs, -sohrs]

adjective

1. Computers.,  pertaining to or denoting software whose source code is available free of charge to the public to use, copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute.

2. pertaining to or denoting a product or system whose origins, formula, design, etc., are freely accessible to the public.

open source

noun

1. 1. intellectual property, esp computer source code, that is made freely available to the general public by its creators

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare closed source

      open source software

open-source

1. Relating to source code that is available to the public without charge. Open-source code is often enhanced, improved, and adapted for specific purposes by interested programmers, with the revised versions of the code are made available to the public. For example, most of the code in the Linux operating system is open-source.

Word History and Origins

Origin of open-source¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

"Based on the information provided by the attackers and open source intelligence, the attack has access to JLR's internal systems and network," security researcher Kevin Beaumont said.

From BBC

"The main reasons organisations don't use open source are a lack of awareness and misplaced fears about cyber security," he adds.

From BBC

She began using open source websites to scour the internet for other appearances of the picture and username.

From Salon

Android and Blink, the engine which powers the Chrome browser, are open source, which means developers can use their underlying code for free.

From BBC

"The open source landscape for voice has evolved so rapidly over the last nine to 12 months," Mr Ajder adds.

From BBC