reference - Wiktionary

For information on how references should be handled on Wiktionary, see Wiktionary:References

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From refer +‎ -ence.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛf.(ə)ɹəns/
• Hyphenation: ref‧er‧ence

Noun[edit]

reference ‎(plural references)

1. (literary or archaic) A relationship or relation (to something).
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III.1.3:

     [A]ll these are far more eminent and great, when they shall proceed from a sanctified spirit, that hath a true touch of religion and a reference to God.

2. A measurement one can compare to.
3. Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted
4. A reference work.
5. (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.
6. (academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
7. (academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
8. (programming) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
9. (programming, character entity) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in a web page such as ™ or €.
10. (obsolete) Appeal.
    • Shakespeare

      Make your full reference.

Hyponyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

• call-by-reference
• pass-by-reference
• self-reference

[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• sense

Verb[edit]

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

1. To refer to, to make reference to.

   Reference the dictionary for word meanings.

2. To mention, to cite.

Usage notes[edit]

• Some authorities object to the use of reference as a verb, preferring "refer to" or "cite".

Antonyms[edit]

• dereference

Translations[edit]

[edit]

• referee
• referent
• referential

External links[edit]

• reference in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• reference in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911