Cite: meaning, definitions and examples

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cite

[saɪt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

formal

To quote or refer to (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement.

Synonyms

mention, quote, refer to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
cite	Used in formal or academic settings when you need to formally acknowledge another person's work or ideas. In her research paper, she had to cite several renowned scientists. You should cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.
quote	Used when repeating the exact words of another person, often with the intention of showing respect or accuracy. She loves to quote famous philosophers in her speeches. He quoted a line from his favorite movie.
refer to	Used when directing someone’s attention to something specific, can be formal or casual. Please refer to the manual for installation instructions. He often refers to his childhood experiences in his stories.
mention	Used in casual or general conversations when briefly bringing up a person, place, or thing. She mentioned the new restaurant downtown during our conversation. He didn’t even mention that he was leaving the company.

Examples of usage

She cited several experts to support her claims.
The student cited the textbook in her research paper.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

legal

To summon (someone) to appear before a court.

Synonyms

issue a summons, summon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
cite	Used when you reference someone's work or mention someone as an example or authority. Common in academic, legal, and formal contexts. She had to cite multiple sources for her research paper. The judge cited several previous cases in his ruling.
summon	Used when calling someone to appear or be present, often implies authority or urgency but can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The manager summoned the team for an urgent meeting. She was summoned to the principal's office.
issue a summons	Primarily used in legal contexts when formally ordering someone to appear in a court of law. The court decided to issue a summons to the witness. He ignored the issued summons and faced additional charges.

Word

Description / Examples

cite

Used when you reference someone's work or mention someone as an example or authority. Common in academic, legal, and formal contexts.

She had to cite multiple sources for her research paper.
The judge cited several previous cases in his ruling.

summon

Used when calling someone to appear or be present, often implies authority or urgency but can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

The manager summoned the team for an urgent meeting.
She was summoned to the principal's office.

issue a summons

Primarily used in legal contexts when formally ordering someone to appear in a court of law.

The court decided to issue a summons to the witness.
He ignored the issued summons and faced additional charges.

Examples of usage

The judge cited the witness to testify in the trial.
He was cited for contempt of court.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

academic

A quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly work.

Synonyms

quotation, reference.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
cite	Used when referring to a source of information or quoting someone in academic, legal, or official contexts. You need to cite your sources properly in your research paper The lawyer cited previous court rulings to support his argument
quotation	Used when referring to an actual excerpt from a text or speech, often in literary or formal contexts. The essay includes a well-known quotation from Shakespeare The book starts with a famous quotation that sets the theme
reference	Used when mentioning or alluding to a source of information or providing background information, often in academic or professional contexts. The report has a detailed list of references at the end She made a reference to several studies to support her claims

Word

Description / Examples

cite

Used when referring to a source of information or quoting someone in academic, legal, or official contexts.

You need to cite your sources properly in your research paper
The lawyer cited previous court rulings to support his argument

quotation

Used when referring to an actual excerpt from a text or speech, often in literary or formal contexts.

The essay includes a well-known quotation from Shakespeare
The book starts with a famous quotation that sets the theme

reference

Used when mentioning or alluding to a source of information or providing background information, often in academic or professional contexts.

The report has a detailed list of references at the end
She made a reference to several studies to support her claims

Examples of usage

The professor included several citations in his research paper.
The article lacked proper citations.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'citare', meaning 'to summon, call forth', which is linked to bringing attention to something.
It was first used in English in the late 14th century, primarily in legal contexts, referring to calling someone to appear in court.

Legal Usage

In legal matters, citing a case helps establish precedents and provides evidence of the law's application.
Citations in law serve as a way to strengthen arguments and demonstrate the validity of claims.

Academic Importance

Citing sources is essential in academic writing as it helps avoid plagiarism, showing respect for original ideas.
It allows readers to verify where information comes from, fostering credibility and deeper research.

Pop Culture

In social media and online content, people are increasingly called to cite sources to support claims, which promotes accountability.
Many popular memes feature citations humorously, highlighting the importance of proof in persuasive arguments.

Digital Age

With the rise of the internet, citation tools and formats like APA and MLA have become essential for students worldwide.
Online platforms often encourage users to cite sources, aiding in critical thinking and evaluating information quality.

Translations

Translations of the word "cite" in other languages:

🇵🇹 citar

🇮🇳 उल्लेख करना

🇩🇪 zitieren

🇮🇩 mengutip

🇺🇦 цитувати

🇵🇱 cytować

🇯🇵 引用する (いんようする)

🇫🇷 citer

🇪🇸 citar

🇹🇷 alıntı yapmak

🇰🇷 인용하다

🇸🇦 اقتبس

🇨🇿 citovat

🇸🇰 citovať

🇨🇳 引用 (yǐnyòng)

🇸🇮 citirati

🇮🇸 vitna í

🇰🇿 дәйексөз келтіру

🇬🇪 ციტირება

🇦🇿 sitat gətirmək

🇲🇽 citar

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,001 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

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7998 reporters
7999 fungi
8000 goddess
8001 cite
8002 counterpart
8003 restrained
8004 subscribed
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