reference

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of referring or consulting

   reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer

2. 2
   noun

   the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to

   I argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes.

3. 3
   noun

   a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts

   The expert contributed articles to the basic reference on that topic.

4. 4
   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

5. 5
   noun

   an indicator that orients you generally

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

6. 6
   noun

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

   I carried an armful of references back to my desk.

7. 7
   verb

   to refer to

   I referenced my colleagues' work.

8. 8
   noun

   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.

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.