date of reference
- noun
- Specialized
- The star catalog listed all positions for the date of reference January 1, 2000.
Examples
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Researchers used the same date of reference to compare orbital parameters accurately.
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Before updating the charts, astronomers must note the date of reference for all recorded data.
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The date of reference for this astronomical data is 2023.
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Please note the date of reference for this observation.
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Before updating the charts, astronomers must note the date of reference for all recorded data.
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Researchers used the same date of reference to compare orbital parameters accurately.
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The star catalog listed all positions for the date of reference January 1, 2000.
Synonyms
A specific day on a calendar when something happens
A fixed date used as a reference to record star and planet positions
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase labels a 'date' that functions as a 'reference' or standard point in time; a B1 learner who knows 'date' (a calendar day) and 'reference' (a point/standard for comparison) can derive this meaning. The 'of' genitive relationship is a standard compositional pattern in English and many other languages, so the meaning is directly predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Date of reference comes from the simple idea of choosing one fixed date as the reference, like taking a single photo of the sky on that day so every position is tied to that moment. That's why date of reference means the one date used as the 'standard' time for all the recorded data.