Definitions for: Refer


[v] have as a meaning; "`multi-' denotes `many' "
[v] think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another; "This plant can be referred to a known species"
[v] seek information from; "You should consult the dictionary"; "refer to your notes"
[v] make reference to; "His name was mentioned in connection with the invention"
[v] send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision; "refer a patient to a specialist"; "refer a bill to a committee"
[v] be about; have to do with; be relevant to; refer, pertain, or relate to; "What's this novel all about?"; "There were lots of questions referring to her talk"



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*fer" (r?*f?r"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Referred
(-f?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Referring.] [F. r['e]f['e]rer, L.
referre; pref. re- re- + ferre to bear. See Bear to carry.]
1. To carry or send back. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

2. Hence: To send or direct away; to send or direct
elsewhere, as for treatment, aid, infirmation, decision,
etc.; to make over, or pass over, to another; as, to refer
a student to an author; to refer a beggar to an officer;
to refer a bill to a committee; a court refers a matter of
fact to a commissioner for investigation, or refers a
question of law to a superior tribunal.

3. To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to
assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason,
or ground of explanation; as, he referred the phenomena to
electrical disturbances.

To refer one's self, to have recourse; to betake one's
self; to make application; to appeal. [Obs.]

I'll refer me to all things sense. --Shak.


Re*fer", v. i.
1. To have recourse; to apply; to appeal; to betake one's
self; as, to refer to a dictionary.

In suits . . . it is to refer to some friend of
trust. --Bacon.

2. To have relation or reference; to relate; to point; as,
the figure refers to a footnote.

Of those places that refer to the shutting and
opening the abyss, I take notice of that in Job.
--Bp. Burnet.

3. To carry the mind or throught; to direct attention; as,
the preacher referrd to the late election.

4. To direct inquiry for information or a quarantes of any
kind, as in respect to one's integrity, capacity,
pecuniary ability, and the like; as, I referred to his
employer for the truth of his story.

Syn: To allude; advert; suggest; appeal.

Usage: Refer, Allude, Advert. We refer to a thing by
specifically and distinctly introducing it into our
discourse. We allude to it by introducing it
indirectly or indefinitely, as by something
collaterally allied to it. We advert to it by turning
off somewhat abruptly to consider it more at large.
Thus, Macaulay refers to the early condition of
England at the opening of his history; he alludes to
these statements from time to time; and adverts, in
the progress of his work, to various circumstances of
pecullar interest, on which for a time he dwells.
``But to do good is . . . that that Solomon chiefly
refers to in the text.'' --Sharp. ``This, I doubt not,
was that artificial structure here alluded to.'' --T.
Burnet.

Now to the universal whole advert: The earth
regard as of that whole a part. --Blackmore.

Synonyms: advert, bear on, bring up, cite, come to, concern, consult, denote, look up, mention, pertain, relate, touch, touch on

See Also: affect, appeal, apply, apply, assort, center, center on, class, classify, come back, commend, concentrate on, convolute, cross-refer, direct, drag up, dredge up, euphemise, euphemize, express, focus on, go for, hark back, have in mind, hold, identify, intend, interest, invoke, involve, matter to, mean, name, namedrop, pervert, quote, raise, recall, recommit, regard, remember, research, return, revolve about, revolve around, send, separate, slur, sophisticate, sort, sort out, speak of the devil, state, submit, think of, touch on, twist, twist around

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