reference book
[ˈrɛf.ər.əns ˈbʊk]
nounpl: reference books
livro de referência
1. A book designed to be consulted for information on a specific subject rather than read from beginning to end
A dictionary is a reference book that helps you find word definitions and pronunciations.
Um dicionário é um livro de referência que ajuda você a encontrar definições e pronúncias de palavras.
2. A book used as a source of information for research, study, or verification of facts
Students used an encyclopedia as a reference book for their history project.
Os alunos usaram uma enciclopédia como livro de referência para seu projeto de história.
3. A book typically organized alphabetically or by subject matter for quick lookup
The library has a special section for reference books like atlases and thesauruses.
A biblioteca tem uma seção especial para livros de referência como atlas e dicionários de sinônimos.
Reference books are fundamental to Brazilian education and library systems. Libraries typically have dedicated 'seções de referência' (reference sections) where these books cannot be checked out, only consulted on-site. This practice ensures their availability for multiple users. In both Brazilian and American contexts, the term has evolved with digitalization, though physical reference books remain important in educational institutions.
Related Idioms & Phrases
go to someone as a reference book - consult someone as an expert
for reference - for consultation or informational purposes
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