reference

noun
  1. The act of mentioning or alluding to something. noun
    He made a reference to the author's previous work.
    The book contains several references to historical events.
  2. A source of information or a work referred to in a text. noun
    The bibliography lists all the references used in the research paper.
    She checked the reference section to find more information on the topic.
  3. A person who provides a testimonial or recommendation for someone. noun
    You will need to provide a reference from a previous employer.
    She asked her professor to be a reference for her job application.
  4. The action of consulting a source of information. verb
    He referenced several studies in his thesis.
    The report references data from the latest census.