reference point
Fixed comparison standard
A reference point is something used as a basis for comparison or measurement.
In navigation, it's a known location from which to determine position.
More broadly, it's any baseline against which other things are judged: Without a reference point, it's hard to know if the price is fair.
Shared reference points—cultural touchstones, common experiences—help people understand each other.
Thirty-six-inch ruler
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- measureUnit of quantity
- criterionStandard for judgment
indicator · baseline · metric · parameter · norm · touchstone · barometer · index
Standard for comparison
- zeroNumerical absence of quantity
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
- datumSingle unit of information
inception · outset · genesis · source · root · beginning · launchpad · groundwork
Notable point of reference
- waypointNavigation reference location
- beaconGuiding light source
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
- bearingPosture or orientation
lighthouse · buoy · marker · compass · GPS · triangulation · latitude · longitude
yardstick
Thirty-six-inch ruler
criterion · indicator · baseline · metric · parameter · norm · touchstone · barometer · index · scale
baseline
Standard for comparison
- zeroNumerical absence of quantity
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
datum · inception · outset · genesis · source · root · beginning · launchpad · groundwork · departure
landmark
Notable point of reference
- waypointNavigation reference location
- beaconGuiding light source
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
bearing · lighthouse · buoy · marker · compass · GPS · triangulation · latitude · longitude · azimuth
standard
Level of quality accepted
prototype · paradigm · template · ideal · canon · pattern · touchstone · quintessence · paragon · gold standard
- standardsstandard, standards, norm, norms, criterion
- idealsideal, utopia, archetypes, models, paradise
- behavioral economicsloss aversion, nudge, anchoring, cognitive bias, heuristics
- draftingblueprint, blueprints, technical drawings, dimensions, engineering drawing
- metricsKPI, metric, KPIs, metrics, statistics
- reference pointsdatum, benchmark, baseline, center line, axis
reference pointvariable
Prone to fluctuation
data point · test subject · dependent variable · sample · output
reference pointdisorientation
Loss of spatial awareness
confusion · groundlessness · uncharted territory · nowhere · unmarked territory
reference, preference, preferred, referring, prefers, point, preferably, referral, preferring