- reference
- reference ref‧er‧ence [ˈrefrəns] noun [countable]1. with reference to formal used to say what you are writing or talking about, especially in business letters:
• With reference to your recent advertisement, I am writing to apply for the post of sales manager.
2. also ˈreference ˌnumber written abbreviation ref a group of numbers and letters that identify a document. A reference is often put at the top of a business letter:• Thank you for your letter (reference JC/216).
• Please quote the reference number above in all correspondence.
3. HUMAN RESOURCES a letter written by someone who knows you well, usually to a new employer, giving information about your character, abilities, or qualifications:• We will be taking up (= getting ) references from your former employers.
• No employee can insist upon being given a reference when he leaves a job.
4. a person who provides information about your character, abilities, or qualifications when you are trying to get a job; = referee:• Could I ask you to act as one of my references?
5. FINANCE BANKING COMMERCE a report giving information on a company's business reputation and financial situation:• Bank references are sought by companies to ensure that those with whom they are trading are solvent and can pay for the goods supplied to them.
• We always ask for trade references (= from members of the customer's own trade ) from our customers.
ˌbanker's ˈreference also ˌbanker's enˈquiry BANKINGa statement given by a bank about the financial position of a business, given to another business, for example a supplier, who wants to decide whether or not to allow the business credit6. terms of reference [plural] the agreed limits of what an official committee or report will deal with:• The matter of compensation is not within the committee's terms of reference.
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Ⅰ.reference UK US /ˈrefərəns/ noun► [C] (ABBREVIATION ref) COMMUNICATIONS, WORKPLACE a set of numbers or letters on a document such as a business letter, used so that people know what it relates to: give/quote/use a reference »In all future letters on this subject, please quote our reference JW/155/C/2011.
»Please write with a full CV quoting the appropriate reference number.
► [C] HR a letter that is written by someone who knows you, often a previous employer, to describe you and say if you are suitable for a job, course, etc.: give/write sb a reference »His former boss gave him an excellent reference.
»She has good references and an acceptable CV.
check/follow up/take up references »We still need to recall the candidate for a second interview, and follow up references.
»a reference check
► (also personal reference, UK also referee) HR a person who knows you and who is willing to write a reference for you: give/list/name sb as a reference »He said he was happy for me to list him as a reference.
► [C or U] a mention of something: make reference to sth »He didn't make any reference to the new product in his report.
► [C or U] comparison with something: reference to sth »Comparative advertising is where one trader advertises his goods by reference to another trader's goods.
► [C] a statement that gives information about the financial situation and business history of a company, an organization, etc.: »Check payment records of prospective customers through league tables, status agency reports, bank or trade references twice a year.
► [U] the action of looking at a book, piece of paper, etc. in order to find information or help: reference to sth »He made the whole speech without reference to the notes in front of him.
»reference books/works/publishing
Ⅱ.reference UK US /ˈrefərəns/ verb [T]► to refer to someone or something: »He spoke about his ambitious plans, referencing writer and motivator Dale Carnegie.
»See Diagram 3.1 referenced above.
Financial and business terms. 2012.
