cite definition - Dictionary

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cite

cite [ sīt ]

transitive verb (past and past participle cit·ed, present participle cit·ing, 3rd person present singular cites)

Definition:

1. quote something or somebody: to mention something or somebody as an example to support an argument or help explain what is being said ( formal )

2. law name somebody: to name somebody officially in a court case

3. law order to appear in court: to order somebody officially to appear in court

4. military officially praise somebody: to praise the actions of a member of the armed services in an official document ( often passive )

noun (plural cites)

Definition:

( informal )
Same as citation (sense 2)

[15th century. < Latin citare "summon repeatedly" < citus, past participle of ciere "summon"]

Spelling Note


	Do not confuse the spelling of cite, site, and sight, which sound similar. Cite is primarily a verb, indicating mentioning or naming, as in cite the book in a footnote, cited them in court. Site is a noun and verb, and refers to location (a building site, sited the school outside the village). Sight is connected with the faculty of seeing, and is also used as a noun and a verb (has excellent sight, sighted him in the distance).