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refer
[ ri-fur ]
verb (used with object)
- to direct for information or anything required:
He referred me to books on astrology.
- to direct the attention or thoughts of:
The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
- to hand over or submit for information, consideration, treatment, assistance, decision, etc.:
They were forced to refer the argument to arbitration.
The doctor will decide whether to carry out blood tests in the office or to refer the patient to a hospital.
- to recommend:
My electrician went above and beyond, and I would definitely refer her to a friend.
- to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related:
Animals referred to the phylum Platyhelminthes are also known as flatworms due to their flattened bodies.
Synonyms: , ,
verb phrase
- to have recourse or resort to; turn to, as for aid or information:
I can't remember the answer offhand, so I'll have to refer to my notes.
- to mention; speak briefly of:
The author referred to his teachers twice in the article.
- to relate to; apply to; mean or denote:
The term “contingency fee” refers to an arrangement where legal fees are due to the attorney only if the case is successful.
- to direct attention to, as a reference mark does:
Each number refers to an endnote.
refer
/ rɪˈfɜːrəbəl; rɪˈfɜː; ˈrɛfərəbəl /
verb
- intr to make mention (of)
- tr to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc
the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965
- intr to seek information (from)
I referred to a dictionary of English usage
he referred to his notes
- intr to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to)
this song refers to an incident in the Civil War
- tr to assign or attribute
Cromwell referred his victories to God
- tr to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision
to refer a complaint to another department
- tr to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
- tr to fail (a student) in an examination
- tr to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
- refer to drawera request by a bank that the payee consult the drawer concerning a cheque payable by that bank (usually because the drawer has insufficient funds in his account), payment being suspended in the meantime
- tr to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
- tr social welfare to direct (a client) to another agency or professional for a service
Usage
Derived Forms
- ˈڱ, noun
- ˈڱ, noun
- referable, adjective
Other Word Forms
- ··· ·ڱ·· ·ڱ·· [ref, -er-, uh, -b, uh, l, ri-, fur, -], adjective
- ·ڱ· noun
- ··ڱ verb misreferred misreferring
- ··ڱ verb (used with object) prereferred prereferring
- ܲ··ڱ adjective
- ɱ-·ڱ adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of refer1
Example Sentences
August 2023: Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pham got into a verbal confrontation with a fan while in the on-deck circle in San Diego, saying later that the fan referred to him with a profanity.
It’s no mistake, he said, that the war between the U.S. and Mexico is often referred to as “the United States intervention.”
He warned that he could refer the matter for prosecution — where Department of Justice officials would have to decide whether to take up the case.
"The worst thing is when the stomach is full, but the brain is not filled," Muhammad Ramadan, a student protester in Bandung, told BBC Indonesian - referring to Prabowo's school meals plan.
He said in his view, the law was clear but the council kept referring to Scottish government guidance.
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