the act of referring or consulting; "reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer"
the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to; "the extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos"
the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to; "he argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes"
a publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to; "he carried an armful of references back to his desk"; "he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation"
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; "She buys for the big department store"
acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange; "She wanted to buy his love with her dedication to him and his work"
be worth or be capable of buying; "This sum will buy you a ride on the train"
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business; "she left some of her personal effects in the house"; "I watched over their effects until they returned"
the general estimation that the public has for a person; "he acquired a reputation as an actor before he started writing"; "he was a person of bad report"
notoriety for some particular characteristic; "his reputation for promiscuity"