- reference
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 mentioning sb/sthADJECTIVE▪ extensive▪ brief, casual, passing▪ occasional▪ frequent, repeated▪ constant▪ further▪
They could find no further reference to Mr LaMotte in the records.
▪ general▪ particular, special, specific▪She won a grant to study political science with special reference to China.
▪ direct, explicit, express (law, esp. BrE), overt▪ cryptic, indirect, oblique, obscure, subtle, vague, veiled▪ clear, obvious▪ ambiguous▪ early▪one of the earliest references to the game of chess
▪ biblical, cultural, historical, literary, religious▪ writtenVERB + REFERENCE▪ contain, have, include▪Her diary contains no reference to the alleged appointment.
▪ drop, make▪He dropped casual references to the legacy of his great work.
▪The article makes no reference to his first marriage.
▪ delete, drop, omit, remove▪The new constitution dropped all reference to previous wars.
▪ avoid▪ find▪ get, understand▪The audience didn't get the references to colonialism.
PREPOSITION▪ in a/the reference▪In an obvious reference to the president, he talked of corruption in high places.
▪ in reference to, with reference to (in letters)▪I am writing with reference to your job application.
▪ reference to▪The summary should be comprehensible without reference back to the source work.
▪The book is filled with references to God.
2 consulting sb/sth for advice/help/informationADJECTIVE▪ easy, quick▪The book is organized alphabetically for easy reference.
▪ further, futurePREPOSITION▪ by reference to▪Our charges are calculated by reference to an hourly rate.
▪ for reference▪Retain a copy of the form for future reference.
▪ without reference to▪The decision was made without reference to local managers.
PHRASES▪ for sb's own reference, for sb's personal reference▪I made a copy of your work, just for my own reference.
▪ for reference purposes▪She needs the book for reference purposes.
▪ a source of reference▪The book is an invaluable source of reference for the art historian.
3 book containing facts/informationADJECTIVE▪ general▪The book is by far the best general reference on natural history.
▪ comprehensive▪ essential▪ handy, useful▪ excellent, good▪ standard▪ online▪an online reference tool
REFERENCE + NOUN▪ book, guide, manual, material, source, text, work▪ tool▪ library▪ section▪You'll find the information in the reference section of your local library.
▪ desk (= in a library) (esp. AmE)▪ librarian (esp. AmE)4 number/note/symbolADJECTIVE▪ copious▪ full▪For full references of all books cited, see Appendix B.
▪ appropriate▪Please quote the appropriate reference in your letter.
▪ bibliographic, bibliographical▪ page▪ grid, mapVERB + REFERENCE▪ quote▪ cite, give▪References to original sources are given at the end of each chapter.
▪ checkREFERENCE + NOUN▪ numberPREPOSITION▪ in a/the reference▪The date of publication should be included in the reference.
▪ reference to▪a reference to page 17
PHRASES▪ a list of references5 letter about your character/abilitiesADJECTIVE▪ glowing, good▪ bad▪ characterVERB + REFERENCE▪ ask for▪ need▪ give (sb), provide (sb with), write (sb)▪ follow up, take up (BrE)▪They've taken up my references (= contacted the people who provided them), so they must be interested in me.
PREPOSITION▪ reference from▪a reference from your current employer
PHRASES▪ a letter of reference6 (esp. AmE) recommends sb for a job ⇨ See also ↑refereeVERB + REFERENCE▪ act as, be▪ contactPREPOSITION▪ reference for▪His former employer agreed to act as a reference for him.
7 standards by which sth is judgedREFERENCE + NOUN▪ point▪ group▪Gene frequencies were calculated then compared with the Finnish population as a reference group.
▪ sample (science)PHRASES▪ a frame of reference▪People interpret events within their own frame of reference.
▪ a point of reference▪Unemployment serves as a useful point of reference in examining social problems.
▪ terms of reference (esp. BrE)▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}The matter was outside the committee's terms of reference.
verbReference is used with these nouns as the object: ↑article
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
