Ref·er·ence n.
 1. The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance.
 2. That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book.
 3. Relation; regard; respect.
    Something that hath a reference to my state.   --Shak.
 4. One who, or that which, is referred to. Specifically; (a) One of whom inquires can be made as to the integrity, capacity, and the like, of another. (b) A work, or a passage in a work, to which one is referred.
 5. Law (a) The act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision. (b) Equity The process of sending any matter, for inquiry in a cause, to a master or other officer, in order that he may ascertain facts and report to the court.
 6. Appeal. [R.] “Make your full reference.”
 Reference Bible, a Bible in which brief explanations, and references to parallel passages, are printed in the margin of the text.

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