reference point

American  

[ref-uh-ruhns point, ref-ruhns] / ˈrɛf ə rəns ˈpɔɪnt, ˈrɛf rəns /

noun

plural

reference points

1. something used as a comparison to aid in evaluation or understanding.

2. a particular physical location used to navigate an area or find an object.

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Example Sentences

The relationship between super-Eddington growth and jet-driven feedback is still not well understood, and this quasar provides a valuable reference point for testing new ideas.

From Science Daily

"It was a timing reference point. There's a tendency when bands are wearing headphones to not be quite as akin with everyone else in the room," he said.

From BBC

Once you chose a private, discounted sale to a family member, normal market comparisons stopped being clean reference points.

From MarketWatch

An alternate suggestion has been to use the torso as the reference point for offside, ignoring the feet and the head.

From BBC

While modern taxonomy may also rely on supporting materials such as photographs or genetic information, the holotype remains the primary reference point.

From Science Daily