Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of reference
"Before submitting her application, she gathered three professional references to include in her portfolio."
In plain English: References are notes or information about someone that other people write to help you get a job or prove you are trustworthy.
"Please check all the references in your bibliography before submitting the paper."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of reference
"The computer program constantly references external databases to verify user credentials."
In plain English: To refer to something means to mention it or talk about it directly.
"The manager will reference your work experience during the interview."
Derived from Latin referre, meaning "to bring back" or "carry again," the term originally referred to carrying something forward in speech or writing. It evolved to denote citations of sources and people recommended for employment based on past performance.