n. a reference at one place in a work to information at another place in the same work.
Syn. -- cross-index. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. an arbitrary set of spatial coordinates used to describe the position or motion of objects. The coordinates may be fixed or moving; as, a rotating frame of reference. [ PJC ]

2. a set of assumptions or conditions that are used to discuss or understand something; as, a religious frame of reference. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. préférence. ] 1. The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference? [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Political Science) A system of voting, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together in nominated or elected. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. One to whom a thing is referred; a person to whom a matter in dispute has been referred, in order that he may settle it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Judge; arbitrator; umpire. See Judge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Refer. ] 1. The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Relation; regard; respect. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something that hath a reference to my state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Appeal. [ R. ] “Make your full reference.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reference Bible, a Bible in which brief explanations, and references to parallel passages, are printed in the margin of the text. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. referendarius, fr. L. referendus to be referred, gerundive of referre: cf. F. référendaire. See Refer. ] 1. One to whose decision a cause is referred; a referee. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An officer who delivered the royal answer to petitions. “Referendaries, or masters of request.” Harmar. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Formerly, an officer of state charged with the duty of procuring and dispatching diplomas and decrees. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. -da /plu> [ Gerundive fr. L. referre. See Refer. ] 1. A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The right to approve or reject by popular vote a meassure passed upon by a legislature. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The principle or practice of referring measures passed upon by the legislative body to the body of voters, or electorate, for approval or rejection, as in the Swiss cantons (except Freiburg) and in various local governments in the United States, and also in the local option laws, etc.; also, the right to so approve or reject laws, or the vote by which this is done. Referendum is distinguished from the mandate, or instruction of representatives by the people, from direct government by the people, in which they initiate and make the laws by direct action without representation, and from a plebiscite, or popular vote taken on any measure proposed by a person or body having the initiative but not constituting a representative or constituent body. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Containing a reference; pointing to something out of itself; as, notes for referential use. -- Ref`er*en"tial*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]