Word Frequency
refer (rɪˈfɜː
)
Definitions
verb
-fers, -ferring, -ferred often foll by to- 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 (British) to fail (a student) in an examination
- tr (British) to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
-
See refer to drawer
- 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
Derived Forms
referable (ˈrɛfərəbəl
) , referrable (rɪˈfɜːrəbəl
) adjectivereˈferral noun
reˈferrer noun
The common practice of adding back to refer is tautologous, since this meaning is already contained in the re- of refer: this refers to (not back to) what has already been said. However, when refer is used in the sense of passing a document or question for further consideration
to the person from whom it was received, it may be appropriate to say he referred the matter back
Word Origin
C14: from Latin referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear1Translations for 'refer'
- British English: refer If you refer to a particular subject or person, you mention them.In his speech, he referred to a recent trip abroad.rɪˈfɜː VERB
- Arabic: يُشيرُ إلى
- Brazilian Portuguese: referir
- Chinese: 提到
- Croatian: uputiti na
- Czech: zmínit (se) zmiňovat (se)
- Danish: referere til
- Dutch: verwijzen
- European Spanish: remitirreferencia
- Finnish: viitata johonkin
- French: référer
- German: sprechen von
- Greek: παραπέμπω
- Italian: riferirsi
- Japanese: 口に出す
- Korean: 언급하다
- Norwegian: referere
- Polish: odnieść się odnosić się
- Portuguese: referir
- Romanian: a menționa
- Russian: направлять
- Spanish: remitir
- Swedish: hänvisa
- Thai: อ้างอิง
- Turkish: söz etmek
- Ukrainian: згадувати згадати
- Vietnamese: nhắc đến
Example Sentences Including 'refer'
'We can always refer to the Nigella Lawson recipe book,' was the departing remark.Glasgow Herald (2001)
Best not to refer to the upset of June -- the thoughtless escape to Sicily: Maria seeming unable to imagine the worry she would cause.The Golden Lion
He writes that the narcissi refer to the Greek word nark, meaning numbness (think of narcosis).Globe and Mail (2003)
However, I think he meant to refer to `a machine that can pass the Turing test "rather than a `Turing machine".New Scientist (1999)
The Supreme Court will refer Prof. Aghajari's case to an appeals court that will review the rest of his sentence.Globe and Mail (2003)
The draft code proposes the removal of the requirement on councils to refer certain closure decisions to ministers.Glasgow Herald (2001)
This conversation appeared to refer to the one he had just finished.Left, Right and Centre
This gave him an opportunity to refer to Chiara's forgotten gift.Murky Shallows
Whatever line you read up on afterwards you will always have to refer back to the line of Life to come to a proper conclusion.THORSONS WAY OF - PALMISTRY (2002)
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