Synonyms of the word

touchstone

• n. A stone used to check the quality of gold alloys by rubbing them to leave a visible trace.
• n. (figuratively, by extension) A standard of comparison or evaluation.

criterion

• n. A standard or test by which individual things or people may be compared and judged.

measure

• n. A prescribed quantity or extent.
• n. The act or result of measuring.
• n. Metrical rhythm.
• n. A course of action.
• v. To ascertain the quantity of a unit of material via calculated comparison with respect to a standard.
• v. To estimate the unit size of something.
• v. To judge, value, or appraise.
• v. To obtain or set apart; to mark in even increments.
• v. (rare) To traverse, cross, pass along; to travel over.
• v. To adjust by a rule or standard.
• v. To allot or distribute by measure; to set off or apart by measure; often with out or off.

reference

• n. (literary or archaic) A relationship or relation (to something).
• n. A measurement one can compare to.
• n. Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
• n. A reference work.
• n. (semantics) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to…
• n. (academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source…
• n. (academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
• n. (programming) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing…
• n. (programming, character entity) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in a web page…
• n. (obsolete) Appeal.
• v. To refer to, to make reference to.
• v. To mention, to cite.

standard

• adj. Falling within an accepted range of size, amount, power, quality, etc.
• adj. (of a tree or shrub) Growing alone as a free-standing plant; not trained on a post etc.
• adj. Having recognized excellence or authority.
• adj. Of a usable or serviceable grade or quality.
• adj. (not comparable, of a motor vehicle) Having a manual transmission.
• adj. As normally supplied (not optional).
• n. A principle or example or measure used for comparison.
• n. A vertical pole with something at its apex.
• n. A manual transmission vehicle.
• n. (botany) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.
• n. (shipbuilding) An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch…
• n. A large drinking cup.