Dictionary

reference en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹef.(ə.)ɹəns/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (California) audio
• /ˈɹɛf.ə.ɹɛns/ (obsolete)
• [ˈɹɛf.ɹn̩s] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Texas) audio
• /ˈɹɛf.(ə.)ɹəns/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle French référence, from Medieval Latin referentia, nominative neuter plural of referēns, present participle of referō (“return, reply”, literally “carry back”). Morphologically refer + -ence.

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, literary, uncountable) A relationship or relation (to something).
   • A man is beloued of a man, in that he is a man, but all theſe are farre more eminent and great, when they ſhal proceed from a ſanctified ſpirit, that hath a true touch of Religion, and a reference to God. 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Charity, compoſed of all three kindes, Pleaſant, Profitable, Honeſt”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 1, member 3, subsection 1, page 349:
2. (countable, uncountable) A measurement one can compare (some other measurement) to.
3. (countable, uncountable) Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
   • Changes will befall, and friends may part, / But distance only cannot change the heart / And were I call’d to prove th’ assertion true, / One proof should serve—a reference to you. a. 1800, William Cowper, “An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq.”, in The Task, Tirocinium, and Other Poems, page 180:
4. (US, countable, especially, uncountable) A person who provides this information; a referee.
5. (attributive, countable, often, uncountable) A reference work.
   • Reference Dictionary of Linguistics
   • reference grammar
6. (countable, uncountable) The act of referring: a submitting for information or decision.
7. (countable, uncountable) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.
8. (countable, literary, uncountable) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
9. (countable, literary, uncountable) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
10. (countable, uncountable) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
11. (countable, qualifier:character entity, uncountable) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in markup languages, such as ™ for the ™ symbol.
12. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Appeal.
    • Y’are falne into a Princely hand, feare nothing, / Make your full reference freely to my Lord, / Who is ſo full of Grace, that it flowes ouer / On all that neede. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 365, column 1:

Forms

Deriveds

call-by-reference · pseudoreference · reference point · back-reference · autoreference · georeference · reference data · point of reference · reference angle · backreference · inertial reference · reference queue · pass by reference · idea of reference · inertial frame of reference · credit reference · reference star · in reference to · metareference · olfactory reference syndrome · reference electrode · call by reference · referenceable · pass-by-reference · subreference · smart-reference proxy · character reference · coreference · grid reference · reference letter · multireference · rvalue reference · strong reference · phyloreference · referenceness · phantom reference · space fixed reference · terms of reference · misreference · reference frame · book of reference · forward reference · self-reference · category reference · reference implementation · noncoreferential · inertial reference system · circular reference · frame of reference · underreference · reference library · inertial reference unit · weak reference · reference work · nonreference · soft reference · reference counting · interreference · cross-reference · reference list · reference type · reference book · letter of reference · reference mark · referenceless · reference variable · overreference · dereference · reference time · reference manual

Hyponyms

strong reference · phantom reference · weak reference · soft reference · forward reference · circular reference

Relateds

handle · sense

Translations (154)

ca referència (information about a person) · hi संदर्भ (academic writing: identification of a source) · cs pramen (academic writing: source) · uk зразо́к (measurement one can compare to) · mi tohutoro (academic writing: source) · et allikas (academic writing: source) · mi tohutoro (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · ru ссы́лка (academic writing: source) · gl referencia (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · cs zdroj (academic writing: source) · hi उल्लेख (academic writing: identification of a source) · bg отправка (academic writing: source) · tl sanggunian (academic writing: identification of a source) · hu ajánlás (information about a person) · tr referans (measurement one can compare to) · nv naaltsoos bitsʼą́ą́dóó ééhózinii (academic writing: source) · fr référence (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · fa ارجاعال (academic writing: identification of a source) · fi viite (academic writing: identification of a source) · ca referència (measurement one can compare to) · lt atsigrįžimas (act of referring: a submitting for information or decision) · cmn 引用 (academic writing: identification of a source) · ms acuan (measurement one can compare to) · sh preporuka (information about a person) · ru ссы́лка (measurement one can compare to) · nl referente (information about a person) · tr referans (information about a person) · ru отсы́лка (academic writing: source) · nl referentie (academic writing: source) · ko 참조 (measurement one can compare to) · nl referent (information about a person) · hu forrás (academic writing: source) · fi lähde (academic writing: source) · pt referência (academic writing: identification of a source) · fr recommandation (information about a person) · ar مَرْجِع (academic writing: identification of a source) · ko 참고 (measurement one can compare to) · uk посила́ння (academic writing: identification of a source) · fi suhde (semantics: relation between objects) · nv bitsʼą́ą́ʼdóó ééhózinii (academic writing: identification of a source) · vi tham chiếu (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · cmn 證明 /证明 (information about a person) · bg отпратка (literary: relationship) · fa مرجع (academic writing: source) · uk рефере́нція (academic writing: identification of a source) · fa اشاره (literary: relationship) · ru рекоменда́ция (information about a person) · bg референция (information about a person) · id acuan (measurement one can compare to) · gl referencia (measurement one can compare to) · uk характери́стика (information about a person) · cmn 引用 (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · pl referencja (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · eo kromnomo (programming: special sequence used to represent complex characters) · eo referenco (academic writing: source) · fi suhde (literary: relationship) · mi tohutoro (academic writing: identification of a source) · el πηγές (academic writing: source) · sk zdroj (academic writing: source) · de Referenz (measurement one can compare to) · uk джерело́ (academic writing: source) · fi alistaminen (act of referring: a submitting for information or decision) · ru ссылка (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · sv källa (academic writing: source) · az xasiyyətnamə (information about a person) · nl referentie (measurement one can compare to) · nv naaltsoos bitsʼą́ą́ʼdóó ééhózinii (academic writing: identification of a source) · de Quelle (academic writing: source) · gl referencia (academic writing: source) · gl referencia (academic writing: identification of a source) · ja 参考 (measurement one can compare to) · cmn 參考文獻 /参考文献 (academic writing: source) · bg отправка (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · af referensie (academic writing: identification of a source) · bg споменаване (literary: relationship) · tr kaynak (academic writing: source) · de Referenz (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · bg еталон (measurement one can compare to) · id rujukan (measurement one can compare to) · ka წყაროს მითითება (academic writing: identification of a source) · ru ссы́лка (academic writing: identification of a source) · fi viittaus (academic writing: identification of a source) · ro referință (measurement one can compare to) · tl sanggunian (academic writing: source) · ro referință (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · ru образе́ц (measurement one can compare to) · fr référence (measurement one can compare to) · ro sursă de referință (academic writing: source) · gl referencia (semantics: relation between objects) · uk посила́ння (academic writing: source) · ja 照会 (information about a person) · hu hivatkozás (academic writing: identification of a source) · ja 出典 (academic writing: source) · pt referência (information about a person) · sk referencia (academic writing: source) · et soovitus (information about a person) · es referencia (information about a person) · bg препоръка (information about a person) · nv bitsʼą́ą́ʼdóó ééhózinii (academic writing: source) · af verwysing (academic writing: identification of a source) · pt referência (measurement one can compare to) · hi संदर्भ (information about a person) · de Referenz (information about a person) · cs reference (academic writing: source) · fi lähdeviittaus (academic writing: identification of a source) · ja 参照 (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · hi संदर्भ (measurement one can compare to) · gl referencia (information about a person) · bg референция (academic writing: identification of a source) · fi suosittelija (person who provides this information) · ca referència (academic writing: source) · ru характери́стика (information about a person) · fa مبنا (measurement one can compare to) · fi suositus (information about a person) · hy բնութագիր (information about a person) · ru отноше́ние (measurement one can compare to) · es referencia (academic writing: source) · fr référence (information about a person) · ru связь (literary: relationship) · it riferimento (measurement one can compare to) · hi उल्लेख (academic writing: source) · uk рекоменда́ція (information about a person) · hi संदर्भ (academic writing: source) · ka წყარო (academic writing: source) · el αναφορά (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · es referencia (measurement one can compare to) · ja 照会先 (information about a person) · et referents (measurement one can compare to) · fr référence (academic writing: source) · ar مَرْجِع (academic writing: source) · nl referentie (academic writing: identification of a source) · ro referință (academic writing: source) · fi viitearvo (measurement one can compare to) · tl talasanggunian (academic writing: source) · ru рефере́нция (measurement one can compare to) · ms rujukan (measurement one can compare to) · ru рефере́нция (information about a person) · fi referenssi (measurement one can compare to) · pt referência (academic writing: source) · ckb سەرچاوە (measurement one can compare to) · et viide (academic writing: identification of a source) · ru исто́чник (academic writing: source) · gd iomradh (academic writing: source) · cmn 參考 /参考 (measurement one can compare to) · ru рефере́нция (academic writing: identification of a source) · sv källhänvisning (academic writing: identification of a source) · hu referencia (information about a person) · fi viite (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere) · oj mookijiwanibiig (academic writing: identification of a source) · ht referans (academic writing: source) · cmn 來源 /来源 (academic writing: source) · ru поручи́тельство (information about a person) · id referensi (measurement one can compare to) · fa ارجاعال (computing: object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere)

reference en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹef.(ə.)ɹəns/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (California) audio
• /ˈɹɛf.ə.ɹɛns/ (obsolete)
• [ˈɹɛf.ɹn̩s] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Texas) audio
• /ˈɹɛf.(ə.)ɹəns/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle French référence, from Medieval Latin referentia, nominative neuter plural of referēns, present participle of referō (“return, reply”, literally “carry back”). Morphologically refer + -ence.

Meanings

1. To provide a list of references for (a text).
   • You must thoroughly reference your paper before submitting it.
2. (qualifier:occasionally proscribed) To cite, to use as a reference.
   • Written information is a relatively new phenomenon. Depositing it and being able to reference it centuries later is not common human experience. 1994 September 14, Barry Chamish, quoting Louis Rossetto, “The End of the Book”, in The Atlantic:
   • Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
   • On the Florence Harding page, for instance, a researcher will be able to reference a book by Waarren Harding’s alleged mistress, Nan Britton, who claimed that she bore his daughter. 1998 January 26, Donnie Radcliffe, “New Library Will Chronicle First Ladies”, in The Washington Post, page C1+:
   • The penchant for synthesizing the work of others that pervades British scholarship has been described by one of my cynical American colleagues as “a giant bibliography that is always eating its own tail.” By this he means that cliques of like-minded writers tend to reference each other’s work incessantly. 1990, Thomas L. Bell, “Political Economy's Response to Positivism”, in Geographical Review, volume 80, number 3, American Geographical Society, →JSTOR, page 314:
3. (proscribed, sometimes) To mention, to refer to.
   • With the economy characteristic of all African sculpture, these portraits reference individual and social identities simultaneously, so that the image of a king may represent a particular king and all kings; a commemorative mask for a woman, a particular woman and all titled women. 1990, Jean Borgatti, “Portraiture in Africa”, in African Arts, volume 23, number 3, page 37:
   • In his speech, the candidate obliquely referenced the past failures of his opponent.
   • While Trump has not explicitly mentioned habeas corpus in public, it’s what he was referencing last month when he commented on steps he could take to combat nationwide injunctions against his actions on deportations, according to one of the people familiar with the talks. 2025 May 9, Kaitlan Collins, Samantha Waldenberg and Tierney Sneed, “Trump involved in discussions over suspending habeas corpus, sources say”, in CNN:
   • And I would simply reference those of you who are out there working. 1991 January 19, Bobby Ray Inman, “A Nominee’s Withdrawal: Transcript of the Statement by Inman on His Decision to Withdraw”, in The New York Times, page A14:
   • Humanities institutions specifically reference the work setting for illustrative applications of the unique and significant contributions of the Humanities. 1988, Integrating the Humanities into Associate Degree Occupational Programs, American Association of Community Colleges, →ISBN, page 25:
4. To contain the value that is a memory address of some value stored in memory.
   • The given pointer will reference the actual generated data.

Forms

Deriveds

rereference · referencer · georeferencer · cross-reference

Relateds

referential · relation · relate · referent · referee

Translations (30)

ru упомина́ть (to mention) · es referenciar (to refer to) · hi उल्लेख करना (to mention) · pl odnosić się do (to refer to) · fr faire référence à (to refer to) · cmn 提到 (to mention) · fi viitata (to mention) · fr se référer à (to refer to) · mi tohutoro (to refer to) · ca referenciar (to refer to) · fr faire référence à (to mention) · fr référencer (to refer to) · bg споменавам (to mention) · bg позовавам се (to refer to) · de referenzieren (to refer to) · pt mencionar (to mention) · cmn 引用 (to refer to) · fi viitata (to refer to) · de sich beziehen (to mention) · ja 参照する (to refer to) · cmn 提及 (to mention) · es referenciar (to mention) · fi viitata (to contain the memory address of another value) · et viitama (to refer to) · ja 言及 (to mention) · pt referenciar (to mention) · fr se référer à (to mention) · fi mainita (to mention) · pt referenciar (to refer to) · bg отнасям се (to refer to)