| reference | (n) the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to, Syn. denotation, extension, Example: the extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos |
| reference | (n) the act of referring or consulting, Syn. consultation, Example: reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer |
| reference | (n) a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to, Syn. source, Example: he carried an armful of references back to his desk; he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation |
| reference | (n) the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to, Example: he argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes |
| reference | (v) refer to, Syn. cite, Example: he referenced his colleagues' work |
| reference book | (n) a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts, Syn. reference, book of facts, reference work, Example: he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic |
| reference grid | (n) a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines that provide coordinates for locating points on an image or a map |
| reference manual | (n) a manual containing information organized in a summary manner |
| reference point | (n) an indicator that orients you generally, Syn. reference, point of reference, Example: it is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved |
| Reference | n. [ See Refer. ] Something that hath a reference to my state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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