The thing, person or place referred to by a noun phrase.

The phenomenon through which referring to something using a noun phrase serves to make it into a concrete entity — The decline of Western civilisation; The day-to-day running of parliament.

A clause which gives information about the referent of a noun — The manager, who has been under fire from fans, was sacked yesterday; Customers alighting at Leeds should take their belongings.

The use of language to affect hearers or readers in a particular way, for example to persuade or scare.