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English Dictionary

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 reference reference /ˈrɛfrəns/

noun

  1. () A remark that calls attention to something or someone  ( mention , reference )
    a remark that calls attention to something or someone
     She made frequent mention of her promotion
    she made frequent mention of her promotion
     There was no mention of it
    there was no mention of it
     The speaker made several references to his wife
    the speaker made several references to his wife
  2. () A short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage  ( acknowledgment , citation , cite , credit , mention , quotation , reference )
    a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
     The student's essay failed to list several important citations
    the student's essay failed to list several important citations
     The acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
    the acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
     The article includes mention of similar clinical cases
    the article includes mention of similar clinical cases
  3. () A book to which you can refer for authoritative facts  ( book of facts , reference book , reference work , reference )
    a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts
     He contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic
    he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic
  4. () An indicator that orients you generally  ( point of reference , reference point , reference )
    an indicator that orients you generally
     It is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved
    it is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved
  5. () A formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability  ( character reference , character , reference )
    a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability
     Requests for character references are all too often answered evasively
    requests for character references are all too often answered evasively
  6. () The most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to  ( denotation , extension , reference )
    the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to
     The extension of satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos
    the extension of satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos
  7. () The act of referring or consulting  ( consultation , reference )
    the act of referring or consulting
     Reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer
    reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer
  8. The relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to  ( reference )
    the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to
     He argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes
    he argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes
  9. (computing) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored  ( computer address , reference , address )
    (computing) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
  10. A publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to  ( reference , source )
    a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to
     He carried an armful of references back to his desk
    he carried an armful of references back to his desk
     He spent hours looking for the source of that quotation
    he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation

verb

  1. Refer to  ( reference , cite )
    refer to
     He referenced his colleagues' work
    he referenced his colleagues' work