Definitions for reference
ˈrɛf ər əns, ˈrɛf rənsref·er·ence

Princeton's WordNet(3.54 / 29 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mention, reference(noun)

   a remark that calls attention to something or someone

   "she made frequent mention of her promotion"; "there was no mention of it"; "the speaker made several references to his wife"

2. citation, cite, acknowledgment, credit, reference, mention, quotation(noun)

   a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

   "the student's essay failed to list several important citations"; "the acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book"; "the article includes mention of similar clinical cases"

3. reference point, point of reference, reference(noun)

   an indicator that orients you generally

   "it is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved"

4. reference book, reference, reference work, book of facts(noun)

   a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts

   "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic"

5. character, reference, character reference(noun)

   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"

6. reference, denotation, extension(noun)

   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"

7. reference, consultation(noun)

   the act of referring or consulting

   "reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer"

8. reference, source(noun)

   a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to

   "he carried an armful of references back to his desk"; "he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation"

9. address, computer address, reference(noun)

   (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored

10. reference(verb)

    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"

11. reference, cite(verb)

    refer to

    "he referenced his colleagues' work"

Wiktionary(4.20 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reference(Noun)

   A relationship or relation (to something).

2. reference(Noun)

   A measurement one can compare to.

3. reference(Noun)

   Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted

4. reference(Noun)

   A reference work.

5. reference(Noun)

   A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.

6. reference(Noun)

   A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.

7. reference(Noun)

   A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.

8. reference(Noun)

   An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.

9. reference(Verb)

   to refer to, to make reference to, to cite

   Reference the dictionary for word meanings.

10. reference(Verb)

    to mention

Webster Dictionary(3.17 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reference(noun)

   the act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

2. Reference(noun)

   that which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

3. Reference(noun)

   relation; regard; respect

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

4. Reference(noun)

   one who, or that which, is referred to

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

5. Reference(noun)

   one of whom inquires can be made as to the integrity, capacity, and the like, of another

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

6. Reference(noun)

   a work, or a passage in a work, to which one is referred

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

7. Reference(noun)

   the act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

8. Reference(noun)

   the process of sending any matter, for inquiry in a cause, to a master or other officer, in order that he may ascertain facts and report to the court

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

9. Reference(noun)

   appeal

   Etymology: [See Refer.]

Freebase(4.54 / 22 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reference

   Reference is a relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object. The first object in this relation is said to refer to the second object. The second object – the one to which the first object refers – is called the referent of the first object. The term reference is used in many spheres of human knowledge, adopting shades of meaning particular to the contexts in which it is used. References can take on many forms, including: a thought, a sensory perception that is audible, visual, olfactory, or tactile, emotional state, relationship with other, spacetime coordinate, symbolic or alpha-numeric, a physical object or an energy projection; but, other concrete and abstract contexts exist as methods of defining references within the scope of the various fields that require an origin, point of departure, or an original form. This includes methods that intentionally hide the reference from some observers, as in cryptography. The following sections give specific usages of reference in different subjects.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reference

   A source for a specific form of data, facts, information, research or statistics.

   The reference for the media article is accurate, fair and just.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 20, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reference' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1341

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reference' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1692

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reference' in Nouns Frequency: #457

How to pronounce reference?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say reference in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of reference in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of reference in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of reference in a Sentence

1. James Comey:

   It's a hard thing to say, but I think Robert Mueller has an emptiness inside of Robert Mueller and a hunger for affirmation that I have never seen in an adult, i think that Robert Mueller lacks external reference points, instead of making hard decisions by calling upon a religious tradition or logic or tradition or history it is all what will fill this hole, what will get me the affirmation that I need ?

2. Emeasoba George:

   Expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. Now, what has been/could be your expectation? Could it be fame or obscruity, greatness or commonness, riches or poverty, grace or disgrace, mess or mercy, success or failure? Whatever/however, in case you don't know, the scripture says that your expectations shall not be cut off/denied, scripture reference (Proverbs chapter 24 :14, Proverbs chapter 23 : 18). Although, your expectation may be delayed, but it will be delayed just for a while. Yes, all your godly/earnest/positive expectations will definitely/surely materialize, it's a matter of time and provided you are/will be patient enough with God.

3. Emeasoba George:

   Do you know? No condition of life is too bad to become good, better and even the best. Do you also know? No human life as well is too damaged or beyond salvation. Besides, there is an iota or atom of sense right inside every so seemed or called nonsense. Yes of course, because when you remove non from every so called nonsense what remains is sense. Now, that is to say obviously, there is also always something in every nothing. Moreover, that signifies conclusively, your so seemed worst condition or circumstance isn't the worst actually. And your so seemed most miserable life isn't the most miserable in the real sense. For, God can effortlessly make up every so seemed worst condition to become the best. Even the most miserable life right here or out there, can become the most enviable life ever. Yes you heard me right as usual, God can do all that and he will do even more than that. If only you do believe in his abilities and words undoubtedly. For, it is ever meant to be unto anyone according to his or her faith, scripture reference (MATTHEW 9:29). -Emeasoba George

4. Emeasoba George:

   I personally don't believe undoubtedly/wholly all that I hear, read and see. And you too shouldn't believe undoubtedly/wholly all that you hear, read and see. Listen up, the only thing you ought to believe undoubtedly/wholly is nothing else but God/the scripture. Because, come what may, God/the scripture has never been broken and it cannot be broken by anyone/anything scripture reference (John 10 : 35). So, feel free to believe God/the scripture undoubtedly/wholly. For, even the grass withers, the flowers fade but God/the scripture stands forevermore, scripture reference (Isaiah 40 : 8). Oh! Yes, God and his words are ever infallible. Besides, God respects his word i.e. (the scripture) above/more than his name. That infers, he (God) can/will go extra mile just to ensure that his words/promises for you will come to pass. Therefore, do believe in God, his promises, words and the scripture undoubtedly/wholly. Because, you can't/won't be disappointed for believing in God, his promises, words and the scripture.

5. Thiruman Archunan:

   There is no dharma greater than a word uttered by a man of conscience; there is no karma greater than a man listening to himself! Since an intention precedes action, it should be the reference point for any action.

Images & Illustrations of reference

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