Reference Definition & Meaning
reference
- noun
- 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"
- 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"
- an indicator that orients you generally; "it is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved"
- a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts; "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic"
- 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"
- 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"
- the act of referring or consulting; "reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer"
- 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"
- (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
- 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"
- verb
- refer to; "he referenced his colleagues' work"
"Reference" in song lyrics
See how reference is used in real songs:
-
"The end is manifest, this whole school is just a reference"
Akir — Apocalypse -
"God is my essence, and you could check these rhymes for reference"
Army of the Pharaohs — Battle Cry -
"For those of you needing further reference"
Artifacts — Skwad Training
Words that rhyme with reference
Usage tips for "reference"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "reference" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for reference to find words that pair well.
Use "reference" in a verse
Now that you know what "reference" means, try using it in your own lyrics:
Generate a verse