reference work
Fact-finding resource book
A reference work is a book or resource designed for looking up specific information rather than reading cover to cover: encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, almanacs.
The library keeps reference works on a separate shelf.
In academic and professional contexts, reference works provide authoritative facts, definitions, or data for consultation.
Comprehensive subject-matter collection
- dictionaryAlphabetical word reference
- thesaurusSynonym and antonym compendium
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
- glossaryAlphabetical list with definitions
atlas · almanac · handbook · manual · directory · bibliography · catalogue · index
Act of retrieving information
- citationMention of a source
- entryAccess or submission
- headwordEntry term in dictionaries
- definitionStatement of meaning
appendix · supplement · errata · addendum · revision · edition · volume · indexing
Stored historical records
- repositoryPlace for storing things
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- registryOfficial record of entries
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
record · annals · chronicle · inventory · special collections · manuscript collection · digital archive
Collected literary works volume
- collectionGathered set of items
- digestMetabolize or summarize
- compilationGathered works assembled together
- corpusAssembled written works
omnibus · reader · sourcebook · casebook · collected works · proceedings · transactions · festschrift
Single-topic scholarly work
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- critical editionAnnotated authoritative text version
- apparatusEquipment for a task
annotation · footnotes · endnotes · abstract · literature review · meta-analysis · peer-reviewed
encyclopedia
Comprehensive subject-matter collection
- dictionaryAlphabetical word reference
- thesaurusSynonym and antonym compendium
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
glossary · atlas · almanac · handbook · manual · directory · bibliography · catalogue · index · gazetteer
lookup
Act of retrieving information
definition · appendix · supplement · errata · addendum · revision · edition · volume · indexing · search function
archive
Stored historical records
- repositoryPlace for storing things
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- registryOfficial record of entries
register · record · annals · chronicle · inventory · special collections · manuscript collection · digital archive
anthology
Collected literary works volume
- collectionGathered set of items
- digestMetabolize or summarize
- compilationGathered works assembled together
corpus · omnibus · reader · sourcebook · casebook · collected works · proceedings · transactions · festschrift
monograph
Single-topic scholarly work
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- critical editionAnnotated authoritative text version
apparatus · annotation · footnotes · endnotes · abstract · literature review · meta-analysis · peer-reviewed
- referencesreferences, dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, handbook
- writingsessay, essays, article, articles, stories
- publicationsbooks, book, newspaper, magazines, magazine
reference workpage-turner
Compulsively readable book
beach read · novel · potboiler · leisure reading · narrative nonfiction
reference worknovel
New and unusual
fiction · poetry collection · creative writing · short story collection · literary work
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