1a quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly work:the majority of the citations are to work published during the past twenty years
Law a reference to a previous case, used as guidance in the trying of comparable cases or in support of an argument:this journal contains citations from all jurisdictions
2a mention of a praiseworthy act in an official report, especially that of a member of the armed forces in wartime:the citation described him as an officer of extreme gallantry
a note accompanying an award, describing the reasons for it:a Nobel citation
3North American a summons to appear in court:a traffic citation
