referee
noun /ˌrefəˈriː/
  /ˌrefəˈriː/
- (also informal ref)the official who controls the game in some sports- He was sent off for arguing with the referee.
 Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsb2- The referee awarded a free kick to the home team.
- The referee booked three players for offensive behaviour.
- an assistant referee flagged for a penalty
- decisions taken by the match referee
- my 20 years as a professional referee
- Graham is a qualified football referee.
- The referee blew his whistle and called the foul.
 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- basketball
- boxing
- football
- …
 - award somebody something
- blow his/her/the whistle
- stop something
- …
 - the referee’s decision
 
- (British English) a person who gives information about your character and ability, usually in a letter, for example when you are applying for a job- The principal often acts as a referee for his students.
- His former employer agreed to act as a referee for him.
 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- academic
 - act as
- be
 - referee for
 
- a person who is asked to settle an argument- to act as a referee between the parties involved
 
- a person who reads and checks the quality of an academic article before it is published- All papers are sent out to external referees.