Definition

1. Verb:
   • To quote or refer to as evidence or authority: To mention or bring forward a specific passage, statement, or source to support an argument or statement.
   • To summon officially: To order someone to appear before a court of law or other authority.
   • To mention or name as an example or for commendation: To refer to someone or something, often in praise or as an instance of a particular quality.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • In your research paper, you must cite all your sources properly.
  • The lawyer cited a previous Supreme Court ruling to support her case.
  • The police officer cited the driver for speeding.
  • The soldier was cited for bravery in the official report.

Advanced Usage

• "to cite chapter and verse": To provide very precise and detailed evidence or information, often from a specific text.

  • When questioned about the policy, she could cite chapter and verse from the employee handbook.

• "as cited in": Used in academic writing to indicate the source where a quotation or idea was found.

  • The theory was first proposed by Smith (1990, as cited in Jones, 2005).

Variants and Related Words

• Citation (n): 1. A quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author. 2. An official summons, especially to appear in court. 3. A formal commendation or award.

  • The article contains several citations from primary sources.
  • He received a citation for his outstanding community service.

• Citable (adj): Worthy of being quoted or referenced.

  • The study produced citable results that supported the hypothesis.

Synonyms

• Quote: To repeat the exact words from a text or speech.
• Reference: To mention or allude to.
• Summon: To authoritatively call on someone to be present.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Cite" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• Cite as precedent: To refer to a past decision or case as an example or rule to be followed in a similar situation.
  • The judge cited the earlier ruling as precedent for her decision.

Noun

1. a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
   • the student's essay failed to list several important citations
   • the acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
   • the article includes mention of similar clinical cases

Verb

1. call in an official matter, such as to attend court
2. advance evidence for
3. refer to for illustration or proof
   • He said he could quote several instances of this behavior
4. repeat a passage from
   • He quoted the Bible to her
5. refer to
   • he referenced his colleagues' work
6. commend
   • he was cited for his outstanding achievements
7. make reference to
   • His name was mentioned in connection with the invention