Citation is the act of referencing or acknowledging a source of information used in a piece of work, such as a research paper, essay, or article. It is a way to give credit to the original author and to allow readers to locate the source of the information. Citing sources is important because it helps to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of using someone elses work without giving proper credit. There are different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, which provide guidelines on how to format citations for different types of sources, including books, articles, websites, and more.

The verb "cite" means to quote or mention something as proof for a theory or as a reason why something has happened. It can also mean to refer to something, especially as an example or proof of what you are saying. In legal contexts, "cite" can mean to summon someone officially or authoritatively to appear in court. Additionally, "cite" can mean to praise someone publicly for something they have done.