reference

English Online Dictionary. What means reference‎? What does reference mean?

English

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛf.(ə)ɹəns/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛfəɹɛns/
• Hyphenation: ref‧er‧ence
• Rhymes: -ɛfəɹəns

Noun

reference (countable and uncountable, plural references)

1. (literary or archaic) A relationship or relation (to something).
2. A measurement one can compare (some other measurement) to.
3. Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
4. (UK, Ireland) A person who provides this information; a referee.
5. (often attributive) A reference work.

   reference grammar ― detailed linguistic description of a particular language's grammar

   Reference Dictionary of Linguistics

6. The act of referring: a submitting for information or decision.
7. (semantics) 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. (academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
9. (academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
10. (computing) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
11. (programming, character entity) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in markup languages, such as ™ for the ™ symbol.
12. (obsolete) Appeal.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• sense
• handle

Verb

reference (third-person singular simple present references, present participle referencing, simple past and past participle referenced)

1. To provide a list of references for (a text).

2. To refer to, to use as a reference.
3. To mention, to cite.
4. (programming) To contain the value that is a memory address of some value stored in memory.

Usage notes

• Some authorities object to the use of reference as a verb with a meaning other than “provide a list of references for,” preferring refer to or cite in these cases. Others allow the meaning “cite [as evidence, an example, etc.]” but reject “mention.” Nevertheless, the proscribed usages are common in both writing and speech.

Derived terms

• cross-reference

Related terms

• referee
• referent
• referential
• relate
• relation

Translations

References

Further reading

• “reference”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “reference”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “reference”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Czech

Etymology

Borrowed from German Referenz, from French référence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈrɛfɛrɛnt͡sɛ]

Noun

reference f

1. reference
2. recommendation

Declension

Related terms

Further reading

• “reference”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “reference”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “reference”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025