reference

Definition of reference

Etymology

refer + -ence

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɹɛf.ɹəns/, /ˈɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ).əns/, SAMPA: /"rEf.r@ns/, /"rEf.3:(r).@ns/
• Audio (US) ^[?]

Noun

reference (plural references)

1. (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.
2. a measurement one can compare to
3. information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted
4. (academic writing) A previously published written work within academic publishing, used as a source for theory or claims referred to which are used in the text.
5. (programming) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.

Derived terms

• self-reference
• reference work
• reference manual
• reference book
• frame of reference
• point of reference

Related terms

• referee
• referent
• referential

Verb

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

1. to refer to, to make reference to, to cite
   
   Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
   
   
2. to mention

Derived terms

• refer

Usage notes

Some authorities object to the use of reference as a verb.

Further reading

A reference, or a references point, is the intensional use of one thing, a point of reference or reference state, to indicate something else. When reference is intended, what the reference points to is called the referent.

References are indicated by sounds (like onomatopoeia), pictures (like roadsigns), text (like bibliographies), indexes (by number) and objects (a wedding ring); but endless concrete and abstract methods can be used intentionally. This includes methods that intentionally hide the reference from some observers, as in cryptography.

Law

In law, references are documents or people providing witness to character. This connotation is also used in employment.

Patent law

In patent law, a reference is a document that can be used to show the state of knowledge at a given time and that therefore may make a claimed invention obvious or anticipated. Examples of references are patents of any country, magazine articles, Ph.D. theses that are indexed and thus accessible to those interested in finding information about the subject matter, and to some extent Internet material that is similarly accessible.

Canadian law

A reference question is a procedure through which the government of Canada can submit legal questions to the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial governments to the provincial courts of appeal.