noun

1. a referring or being referred; esp., submission of a problem, dispute, etc. to a person, committee, or authority for settlement
2. relation; connection; regard in reference to his letter
3. 1. the directing of attention to a person or thing
   2. a mention or allusion
4. 1. an indication, as in a book or article, of some other work or passage to be consulted
   2. the work or passage so indicated
   3. the mark or sign, as a number, letter, or symbol, directing the reader to a footnote, etc.
      in full reference mark
5. 1. the giving of the name of another person who can offer information or recommendation
   2. the person so indicated
   3. a written statement of character, qualification, or ability, as of someone seeking a position; testimonial
6. 1. use or consultation to get information, as an aid in research, etc.: often attributive reference books
   2. a book, etc. used for reference

transitive verb referenced -·enced, referencing -·enc·ing