reference

CEFRB1

/ˈɹɛf.(ə.)ɹəns/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
noun
A source of information or a mention of something.
02
verb
To mention or use something as evidence or support.

Examples

Perry is mistaken in thinking that Emmet's theory was constructed without reference to Newtonian physics.
She made no reference to her illness but only to her future plans.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses: 5
Parts of speech: 2
Citations: 5

Also pronounced

[ˈɹɛf.ɹn̩s]
/ˈɹef.(ə.)ɹəns/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

A measurement one can compare (some other measurement) to.
Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
A relationship or relation (to something).

More examples

In context

With reference to your request, I will support.
You must thoroughly reference your paper before submitting it.
Reference Dictionary of Linguistics

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

When writing the essay, she included a blank to the famous study by Dr. Smith.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Citations

The word in print, with each source given in full.

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.
1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Charity, compoſed of all three kindes, Pleaſant, Profitable, Honeſt”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford,...
Changes will befall, and friends may part, / But distance only cannot change the heart / And were I call’d to prove th’ assertion true, / One proof should serve—a reference to you.
a. 1800, William Cowper, “An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq.”, in The Task, Tirocinium, and Other Poems, page 180
The penchant for synthesizing the work of others that pervades British scholarship has been described by one of my cynical American colleagues as “a giant bibliography that is always eating its own tail.” By this he means that cliques of like-minded writers tend to reference each other’s work incessantly.
1990, Thomas L. Bell, “Political Economy's Response to Positivism”, in Geographical Review, volume 80, number 3, American Geographical Society, →JSTOR, page 314
Written information is a relatively new phenomenon. Depositing it and being able to reference it centuries later is not common human experience.
1994 September 26, Barry Chamish, quoting Louis Rossetto, “The End of the Book”, in The Atlantic
On the Florence Harding page, for instance, a researcher will be able to reference a book by Waarren Harding’s alleged mistress, Nan Britton, who claimed that she bore his daughter.
1998 January 26, Donnie Radcliffe, “New Library Will Chronicle First Ladies”, in The Washington Post, page C1+

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Origin

noun

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.

Deep Dive

noun

More examples

Quick test

When writing the essay, she included a blank— to the famous study by Dr. Smith.

Nearby

Origin

noun

When writing the essay, she included a blank to the famous study by Dr. Smith.