From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreference bookˈreference book noun [countable] TCNINFORMATIONa book such as a dictionary or encyclopedia that you look at to find information
Examples from the Corpus
reference book• Make yourself a present of Silences and keep it by you as a reference book.• As a visual aid to anatomical familiarity, a reference book such as this has undoubted value.• Orthopaedic Disorders A good reference book, this well-illustrated and clearly practical text would be a useful resource on any orthopaedic ward.• If it is in a data or reference book, remember where, but forget the details until you need them.• Rather, it serves as an eminently readable reference book for those considering a life in food biz. 