Reference

Pronunciation: /ˈrɛfərəns/

Definitions of reference

noun a book or passage referred to for information

Example Sentences

A1 I need a reference for this information.

A2 Can you provide me with a reference to support your claim?

B1 The book includes a reference list at the end.

B2 She cited the reference in her research paper.

C1 The article is filled with references to other studies.

C2 His speech was backed up by numerous references and sources.

verb mention or allude to

Example Sentences

A1 I reference my notes before taking the exam.

A2 She references the dictionary when she doesn't know a word.

B1 The author references several studies in his research paper.

B2 The lawyer referenced previous case law to support her argument.

C1 The professor referenced multiple sources in his comprehensive analysis.

C2 The historian referenced primary documents to validate her findings.

Examples of reference in a Sentence

formal Please provide a reference for the information you have shared.

informal Can you point me to a reference for that fact?

slang Got any references to back that up?

figurative In this debate, historical references serve as our guiding light.

Grammatical Forms of reference

• past tense: referenced
• plural: references
• comparative: more referenced
• superlative: most referenced
• present tense: referencing
• future tense: will reference
• perfect tense: have referenced
• continuous tense: is referencing
• singular: reference
• positive degree: referenced
• infinitive: to reference
• gerund: referencing
• participle: referencing

Origin and Evolution of reference

First Known Use: 1425 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'reference' originated from the Latin word 'referre', which means 'to carry back' or 'to relate'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 15th century to mean 'act of referring', the word 'reference' has evolved to also mean a source of information or a mention of something in a written work.