It is only from an article about CED that we learn it has  171,000 entries,  which suggests that Collins means by references what Merriam-Webster means by entries .  But CED and Cobuild certainly do not say so!
( ( ( ( It ( ( ( ( is only ) ( from ( ( an article ) ( about CED ) ) ) ) ( that ( we ( learn ( it ( has ( ( ( 171,000 entries ) , ) ( which ( suggests ( that ( Collins ( means ( by ( references ( what ( Merriam-Webster ( means ( by entries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) But ) ( ( ( CED and ) Cobuild ) ( certainly ( ( do not ) ( say so ) ) ) ) ) ! )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB only)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN article)) (PP (IN about) (NP (NNP CED))))) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP learn) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (CD 171,000) (NNS entries)) (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (VP (VBZ suggests) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNP Collins)) (VP (VBZ means) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (NNS references)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (NNP Merriam-Webster)) (VP (VBZ means) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNS entries)))))))))))))))))))))) (. .)) (CC But) (S (NP (NNP CED) (CC and) (NNP Cobuild)) (ADVP (RB certainly)) (VP (VBP do) (RB not) (VP (VB say) (ADVP (RB so))))) (. !)))
Entries is a more precise term that references and is less confusing.
( Entries ( ( is ( ( a ( ( more precise ) term ) ) ( that ( ( references and ) ( is ( less confusing ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Entries)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ precise)) (NN term)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VP (VBZ references)) (CC and) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (RBR less) (JJ confusing)))))))) (. .)))