1.  reference(n = noun.communication) mention - a remark that calls attention to something or someone; "she made frequent mention of her promotion"; "there was no mention of it"; "the speaker made several references to his wife"
is a kind of comment, input, remark
has particulars: allusion, retrospection, name-dropping
Derived form verb refer₁

2.  reference(n = noun.communication) acknowledgment, citation, cite, credit, mention, quotation - a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage; "the student's essay failed to list several important citations"; "the acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book"; "the article includes mention of similar clinical cases"
is a kind of annotation, notation, note
has particulars: photo credit, cross-index, cross-reference
Derived form verb reference₁

3.  reference(n = noun.communication) point of reference, reference point - an indicator that orients you generally; "it is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved"
is a kind of indicator
has particulars: bench mark, benchmark, landmark, lubber's line, lubber's mark, lubber's point, lubber line, mark, target, white line, buoy

4.  reference(n = noun.communication) book of facts, reference book, reference work - a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts; "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic"
is a kind of book
has particulars: cookbook, cookery book, instruction book, source book, wordbook, enchiridion, handbook, vade mecum, directory, annual, yearbook, yearly, atlas, book of maps, map collection, cyclopaedia, cyclopedia, encyclopaedia, encyclopedia
Derived form verb refer₅

5.  reference(n = noun.communication) character, character reference - a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability; "requests for character references are all too often answered evasively"
is a kind of good word, recommendation, testimonial

6.  reference(n = noun.cognition) denotation, extension - the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to; "the extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos"
is a kind of meaning, substance
Derived forms verb refer₆, verb refer₂, adjective referent₁

7.  reference(n = noun.act) consultation - the act of referring or consulting; "reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer"
is a kind of action
Derived form verb refer₄

8.  reference(n = noun.communication) source - a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to; "he carried an armful of references back to his desk"; "he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation"
is a kind of publication
Derived forms verb refer₅, verb reference₁

9.  reference(n = noun.communication) address, computer address - (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored;
is a kind of code, computer code
has particulars: argument, parameter, uniform resource locator, universal resource locator, url

10.  reference(n = noun.cognition) - the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to; "he argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes"
is a kind of meaning, substance
Derived forms verb refer₃, verb refer₆, adjective referential₁

   reference(v = verb.creation) cite - refer to; "he referenced his colleagues' work"
is one way to compose, indite, pen, write
Derived forms noun reference₂, noun reference₈
Sample sentences: Did he reference his major works over a short period of time?

1.  The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance. [1913 Webster]

2.  That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book. [1913 Webster]

3.  Relation; regard; respect. [1913 Webster]
"Something that hath a reference to my state." [1913 Webster]

4.  One who, or that which, is referred to. [1913 Webster]

5.  The act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision. [1913 Webster]

6.  Appeal. Shak. [1913 Webster]

reference, n. & v.
--n.
1 the referring of a matter for decision or settlement or consideration to some authority.
2 the scope given to this authority.
3 (foll. by to) a a relation or respect or correspondence (success seems to have little reference to merit). b an allusion (made no reference to our problems). c a direction to a book etc. (or a passage in it) where information may be found. d a book or passage so cited.
4 a the act of looking up a passage etc. or looking in a book for information. b the act of referring to a person etc. for information.
5 a a written testimonial supporting an applicant for employment etc. b a person giving this.
--v.tr. provide (a book etc.) with references to authorities.

Idiom:
reference book a book intended to be consulted for information on individual matters rather than read continuously. reference library a library in which the books are for consultation not loan. with (or in) reference to regarding; as regards; about. without reference to not taking account of.

Derivative:
referential adj.

N  relation, bearing, reference, connection, concern, cognation, correlation, analogy, similarity, affinity, homology, alliance, homogeneity, association, approximation, filiation, interest, relevancy, dependency, relationship, relative position, comparison, ratio, proportion, link, tie, bond of union, relative, correlative, cognate, relating to, relative to, in relation with, referable or referrible to, belonging to, appurtenant to, in common with, related, connected, implicated, associated, affiliated, allied to, en rapport, in touch with, approximative, approximating, proportional, proportionate, proportionable, allusive, comparable, in the same category, like, relevant, applicable, equiparant, relatively, pertinently, thereof, as to, as for, as respects, as regards, about, concerning, anent, relating to, as relates to, with relation, with reference to, with respect to, with regard to, in respect of, while speaking of, a propos of, in connection with, by the way, by the by, whereas, for as much as, in as much as, in point of, as far as, on the part of, on the score of, quoad hoc, pro re nata, under the head of, of, in the matter of, in re, thereby hangs a tale.

N  prototype, original, model, pattern, precedent, standard, ideal, reference, scantling, type, archetype, antitype, protoplast, module, exemplar, example, ensample, paradigm, lay-figure, text, copy, design, fugleman, keynote, die, mold, matrix, last, plasm, proplasm, protoplasm, mint, seal, punch, intaglio, negative, stamp, a precedent embalms a principle, exempla sunt odiosa.

N  advice, counsel, adhortation, word to the wise, suggestion, submonition, recommendation, advocacy, advisement, exhortation, expostulation, admonition, guidance, instruction, charge, injunction, obtestation, Governor's message, President's message, King's message, Queen's speech, message, speech from the throne, adviser, prompter, counsel, counselor, monitor, mentor, Nestor, magnus Apollo, senator, teacher, guide, manual, chart, physician, doctor, leech, archiater, arbiter, reference, referment, consultation, conference, pourparler, recommendatory, hortative, dehortatory, admonitory, Int, go to!, give every man thine ear but few thy voice, I pray thee cease thy counsel, my guide, philosopher, and friend, 'twas good advice and meant, my son be good, verbum sat sapienti, a word to the wise is sufficient, vive memor leti, we, ask advice but we mean approbation.

N  evidence, facts, premises, data, praecognita, grounds, indication, criterion, testimony, testification, expert testimony, attestation, deposition, examination, admission, authority, warrant, credential, diploma, voucher, certificate, doquet, docket, testamur, record, document, pi ce justificative, deed, warranty, signature, seal, exhibit, material evidence, objective evidence, witness, indicator, hostile witness, eyewitness, earwitness, material witness, state's evidence, deponent, sponsor, cojuror, oral evidence, documentary evidence, hearsay evidence, external evidence, extrinsic evidence, internal evidence, intrinsic evidence, circumstantial evidence, cumulative evidence, ex parte evidence, presumptive evidence, collateral evidence, constructive evidence, proof, evidence in chief, secondary evidence, confirmation, corroboration, support, ratification, authentication, compurgation, wager of law, comprobation, citation, reference, legal research, literature search (experiment), showing, indicative, indicatory, deducible, grounded on, founded on, based on, corroborative, confirmatory, by inference, according to, witness, a fortiori, still more, still less, raison de plus, in corroboration, of, valeat quantum, under seal, under one's hand and seal, dictum de dicto, mise en evidence.

N  indication, symbolism, symbolization, semiology, semiotics, semeiology, semeiotics, Zeitgeist, characteristic, diagnostic, lineament, feature, trait, fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint, cloven hoof, footfall, recognition (memory), diagnostic, divining rod, detector, sign, symbol, index, indice, indicator, point, pointer, exponent, note, token, symptom, dollar sign, dollar mark, type, figure, emblem, cipher, device, representation, epigraph, motto, posy, gesture, gesticulation, pantomime, wink, glance, leer, nod, shrug, beck, touch, nudge, dactylology, dactylonomy, freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology, byplay, dumb show, cue, hint, clue, clew, key, scent, signal, signal post, rocket, blue light, watch fire, watch tower, telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff, cresset, fiery cross, calumet, heliograph, guidon, headlight, mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick, print, imprint, impress, impression, keyboard symbols, printing symbols, red letter, italics, sublineation, underlining, bold font, jotting, note, annotation, reference, blaze, cedilla, guillemets, hachure, quotation marks, ", double quotes, " ", parentheses, "( )", brackets, "", braces, "", left arrow, "<", right arrow, ">", forward slash, "/", backward slash, "\", exclamation point, "!", commercial at, "@", pound sign, "#", percent sign, "%", carat, "", ampersand, "&", asterisk, "*", hyphen, "-", dash, "-", "_", em dash, "--", plus sign, "+", equals sign, "=", question mark, "?", period, ", ", semicolon, ", ", colon, ":", comma, ", ", apostrophe, "'", single quote, "'", tilde, "~", badge, criterion, countercheck, countermark, countersign, counterfoil, duplicate, tally, label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop, dib, totem, tessera, card, bill, witness, voucher, stamp, cacher, trade mark, Hall mark, signature, mark, autograph, autography, attestation, hand, hand writing, sign manual, cipher, seal, sigil, signet, hand and seal, paraph, brand, superscription, indorsement, endorsement, password, watchword, catchword, security card, pass, passkey, credentials, open sesame, timbrology, mot de passe, mot du guet, pass-parole, shibboleth, title, heading, docket, address card, visiting card, carte de visite, insignia, banner, banneret, bannerol, bandrol, flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum, oriflamb, oriflamme, figurehead, ensign, pennon, pennant, pendant, burgee, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack, banderole, old glory, quarantine flag, vexillum, yellow-flag, yellow jack, tricolor, stars and stripes, bunting, heraldry, crest, coat of arms, arms, armorial bearings, hatchment, escutcheon, scutcheon, shield, supporters, livery, uniform, cockade, epaulet, chevron, garland, love knot, favor, beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock, guidepost, handpost, fingerpost, directing post, signpost, pillars of Hercules, pharos, bale-fire, beacon-fire, l'etoile du Nord, landmark, seamark, lighthouse, balize, polestar, loadstar, lodestar, cynosure, guide, address, direction, name, sign, signboard, warning, omen, prefigurement, trace, record, warning &c, alarm, scepter, trophy, gauge, milestone, milepost, brand, fool's cap, check, telltale, test, mileage ticket, milliary, notification, advertisement, word of command, call, bugle call, trumpet call, bell, alarum, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, angelus, reveille, sacring bell, sanctus bell, exposition &c (explanation), proof, pattern, indicating, indicative, indicatory, denotative, connotative, diacritical, representative, typical, symbolic, pantomimic, pathognomonic, symptomatic, characteristic, demonstrative, diagnostic, exponential, emblematic, armorial, individual, known by, recognizable by, indicated, pointed, marked, denotable, indelible, in token of, symbolically, in dumb show, ecce signum, ex ungue leonem, ex pede Herculem, vide ut supra, vultus ariete fortior.

anatomical reference, character reference, date of reference, frame of reference, inertial reference frame, point of reference, reference book, reference frame, reference grid, reference manual, reference mark, reference point, reference system, reference work