Usage Note: Though originally a noun, reference is often used as a transitive verb meaning "to supply (a book, article, or other work) with references." People also use the verb to mean "To cite as a reference" or simply "To mention or allude to."
A reference is a statement written by someone who knows you and which describes your character and abilities. When you apply for a job, an employer might ask for references.
a direction of the attention, as in a book, to some other book, passage, etc.: [uncountable] You make reference to several authors in your paper. [countable] the use of references in a term paper.
"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.
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 page.
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 semantics, reference is generally construed as the relationships between nouns or pronouns and objects that are named by them. Hence, the word "John" refers to the person John.
A reference is someone you can rely on to put in a good word for you when applying for a job. Or, a reference might be an outside source you use in a research paper.
