̈ɪˈprefərəns n. 1
the act or an
instance of preferring or
being preferred. 2 a
thing preferred. 3 a the favouring of
one person etc.
before others. b
Commerce the favouring of one
country by admitting
its products at a lower
import duty. 4
Law a
prior right,
esp. to the
payment of debts. øin preference to as a thing preferred
over (another). preference shares (or stock)
Brit. shares or
stock whose entitlement to
dividend takes
priority over
that of
ordinary shares. [F pr÷f÷rence f. med.L praeferentia (as PREFER)]