reference
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MORE ABOUT REFERENCE
What does reference mean?
Reference means an act of referring, that is, an act of directing someone to something, Jaya noted the name of the author for future reference.
Reference also means a direct mention or to the actual books or materials that someone is being referred to, as in The greedy pig named Bob Bacon was a reference to the actual business tycoon of the same name.
Reference can also mean material that can be referred to for information, as in The encyclopedia is a good reference to use when doing your homework.
In a piece of writing, a reference is a direction or citation leading a reader to another book or passage for more information, as in The author listed several references at the bottom of the page.
Any of these senses can also be used as verbs, as in All of the graphical data was referenced at the end of the study.
Reference is also commonly used to mean people that give testimony about a person’s character, such as for a job application, as in The teacher agreed to be listed as a reference on Namita’s college application.
Example: Teachers often tell their students how many references their research papers need to have.
Where does reference come from?
The first records of the term reference come from around 1580. It combines the word refer, meaning to direct someone to, and the suffix –ence, which forms a noun and indicates an action.
Reference has multiple meanings that are all commonly used. In general, the word reference in some way indicates that your attention is being directed somewhere. References in writing often direct you to other pieces of writing, while a list of job references directs a hiring department to sources that will vouch for your work experience.
Of course, the website you are using right now is also an excellent reference you can direct someone to when they are confused about words and their meanings!
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What are some other forms related to reference?
- misreference (noun)
- nonreference (noun)
- prereference (noun)
- subreference (noun)
- referential (adjective)
What are some synonyms for reference?
What are some words that share a root or word element with reference?
What are some words that often get used in discussing reference?
How is reference used in real life?
Reference has several different commonly used meanings.
Sometimes I talk to my kids like Samantha from Sex And The City, they’ve never seen so they don’t get the reference. But they agree, whoever that is, is a menace.
— Paul Danke Portland OR. 7/1 Siren theater (@pauldanke) September 29, 2020
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all notice: Keep your receipts for future reference. They may come in handy.
— L. Spenser Smith (@LSpenserSmith) October 20, 2017
Friends using each other as job references is my favorite form of finessing the system.
— Bella Goth (@HotCommieGal) February 23, 2020
Try using reference!
Is the following a correct use of reference?
It is wise to keep a copy of any contract you sign for your own reference.
How to use reference in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for reference
Derived forms of reference
referencer, nounreferential (ˌrɛfəˈrɛnʃəl), adjectiveOther Idioms and Phrases with reference
see in regard (reference) to.