reference book

1. A book, such as a dictionary or encyclopedia, to which one can refer for authoritative information.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

reference book

1. a book, such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, etc, from which information may be obtained

2. (Historical Terms) South African another name for passbook⁴

3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) South African another name for passbook⁴

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

reference book - 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 work, 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

Translations

مَرْجِع عِلْمي، كِتاب أو موسوعَه

příručkaslovník

håndbogopslagsbog

Nachschlagewerk

uppsláttarrit

libro di consultazione

priročnik

başvuru kitabı

参考书

reference book

n → libro di consultazione

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

refer

(rəˈfəː) – past tense, past participle reˈferred – verb

(with to).

1. to talk or write (about something); to mention. He doesn't like anyone referring to his wooden leg; I referred to your theories in my last book.

2. to relate to, concern, or apply to. My remarks refer to your last letter.

3. to send or pass on to someone else for discussion, information, a decision etc. The case was referred to a higher law-court; I'll refer you to the managing director.

4. to look for information (in something). If I'm not sure how to spell a word, I refer to a dictionary.

referee (refəˈriː) noun

1. a person who controls boxing, football etc matches, makes sure that the rules are not broken etc. The referee sent two of the players off the field.

2. a person who is willing to provide a note about one's character, ability etc, eg when one applies for new job.

verb – past tense, past participle ˌrefeˈreed –

to act as a referee for a match. I've been asked to referee (a football match) on Saturday.

reference (ˈrefərəns) noun

1. (an) act of referring (to something); a mention (of something). He made several references to her latest book; With reference to your request for information, I regret to inform you that I am unable to help you.

2. a note about one's character, ability etc, eg when one applies for a new job. Our new secretary had excellent references from her previous employers.

3. an indication in a book, report etc, showing where one got one's information or where further information can be found.

reference book

a book which is not usually read from beginning to end but which is consulted occasionally for information, eg a dictionary or encyclopaedia.

reference library

a library of books to be looked at for information but not borrowed.

reference, noun, is spelt with -r-.
referred and referring are spelt with -rr-.