quote
Definitions
To repeat the exact words written or said by another person, naming the source
引用，引述（他人的原话）
To state in advance the price one will charge for a job or product
报价，开价
A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone else; a quotation
引语，引文；名言
A stated estimate of the price of a job or product
报价（单）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Medieval Latin quotāre, 'to mark a text with its chapter number,' from quot/quotus ('which in number'). Pointing readers to a numbered passage became repeating that passage's words — hence 'to cite.' English then extended it: naming a price is also naming a number, so quote also means 'to give a price.'
Root quot still carries 6 more wordsWhy It Means This
How did 'numbering a chapter' become 'citing words' and then 'naming a price'? Medieval scribes quotāre a passage by marking its number so readers could find it. The act of pointing to a numbered passage slid into the act of repeating its words — that gave us 'quote a line.' Centuries later, when someone is asked what they'll charge, they 'name their number' too — so the same word came to mean stating a price. That is why a quote can be a line from a poem or an estimate from a plumber.
Usage Guide
- Citing words (neutral): quote a line, quote a study, quote someone verbatim
- Pricing (business): quote a price, quote you $500 for the work
- As a noun, 'quote' is the informal everyday form; 'quotation' is the more formal noun for both senses.
- Note: punctuation marks are 'quotation marks' (or informally 'quotes'), never 'quote marks' in formal writing.
Example Sentences
- 1.
She quoted a famous line from Shakespeare in her speech.
- 2.
The builder quoted us $5,000 for the repairs.
- 3.
He began the article with a quote from Einstein.
- 4.
Can you give me a quote for painting the house?
Easily Confused
quote vs cite — Both mean drawing on a source, but quote means repeating the exact words (in quotation marks), while cite means referring to a source or naming it as support without necessarily using its words. You quote a sentence; you cite a study. You can cite a paper without quoting a single word from it.