cite

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To name a book, article, or author as the source of information.

   You should cite all the authors of the works you reference.

2. 2
   verb

   To mention something as an example or reason.

   She cited rising costs as the reason for closing the shop.

3. 3
   verb

   To quote a passage from a book or another person's words.

   The lawyer cited an earlier court ruling to support her case.

4. 4
   verb

   To officially order someone to appear in court.

   Police cited several of the protesters for blocking the road.

5. 5
   noun

   A short note that credits the source of information or a quotation.

   The paper had hundreds of cites at the end.

Common collocations

• cite a figure Verb + noun
• cite a study Verb + noun

From Old French citer, from Latin citare (“to cause to move, excite, summon”), frequentative of ciēre (“to rouse, excite, call”). Sense 4 is the original one.

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