reference noun
Definition of reference noun in Oxford Advanced Learner''s Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
REFERENCE meaning: 1 : the act of mentioning something in speech or in writing the act of referring to something or someone; 2 : the act of looking at or in something for information
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
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"Reference" is a versatile word that can mean a source of information, a mention or allusion, or a person who provides testimony about someone''s qualifications.
There are 16 meanings listed in OED''s entry for the noun reference, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ''Meaning & use'' for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
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