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cite

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsaɪt// UK //sˈaɪt// cite Academic General-service Informal

v. to mention something as a reason or an example to support what you are saying. You often do this in school or at work when you use facts from a book or a report.

v. to quote or refer to a source, fact, or authority as evidence for an argument. Often used in academic or legal contexts to attribute information to its original author.


SIMPLE

You must cite your sources at the end of the essay.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer decided to cite a previous court case to prove that his client was innocent.

COMPLEX

In her thesis, the researcher had to cite several peer-reviewed studies to justify her unconventional methodology and ensure the validity of her findings.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Old French citer, from Latin citare (“to cause to move, excite, summon”), frequentative of ciēre (“to rouse, excite, call”). Sense 4 is the original one.

Etymology 2

From the first syllable of citation. Analogous to quote, from quotation.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a source, author, or specific piece of evidence.

Pitfall

He cited about the book in his report.He cited the book in his report.Cite is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about'.

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