reference work

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

reference work - a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts; "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic" book of facts, reference book, reference book - a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together); "I am reading a good book on economics" cookbook, cookery book - a book of recipes and cooking directions instruction book - a book of directions for using or operating some piece of equipment source book - a collection of historically important documents published together as a book wordbook - a reference book containing words (usually with their meanings) enchiridion, handbook, vade mecum - a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location directory - an alphabetical list of names and addresses yearly, annual, yearbook - a reference book that is published regularly once every year book of maps, map collection, atlas - a collection of maps in book form cyclopaedia, cyclopedia, encyclopaedia, encyclopedia - a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics (often arranged in alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of human knowledge or with some particular specialty