n.
Pronunciation: - ˌ bu ̇ k
Function: noun
Date: 1762
1 : a book containing records of illustrative cases that is used for reference and instruction (as in law or medicine)
2 : a compilation of primary and secondary documents relating to a central topic together with scholarly comment, exercises, and study aids that is designed to serve as a sourcebook for short papers (as in a writing course) or as a point of departure for a research paper