refer

[ ri-fur ]

/ rɪˈfɜr /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR refer ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

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, decision, etc.: to refer the argument to arbitration.

to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related.

to have relation; relate; apply.

verb (used without object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

to direct attention, as a reference mark does.

to have recourse or resort; turn, as for aid or information: to refer to one's notes.

to make reference or allusion: The author referred to his teachers twice in his article.

Origin of refer

1325–75; Middle English referren < Latin referre to bring back, equivalent to re- re- + ferre to bring, bear¹

SYNONYMS FOR refer

4 attribute, ascribe, impute.

5 pertain, belong.

8 advert, allude.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR refer ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM refer

ref·er·a·ble, re·fer·ra·ble, re·fer·ri·ble

[ref-er-uh-buhl, ri-fur-] /ˈrɛf ər ə bəl, rɪˈfɜr-/, adjective re·fer·rer, noun mis·re·fer, verb, mis·re·ferred, mis·re·fer·ring. pre·re·fer, verb (used with object), pre·re·ferred, pre·re·fer·ring.

un·re·ferred, adjective well-re·ferred, adjective

Words nearby refer

refect, refection, refectory, refectory table, refel, refer, referee, reference, reference book, reference electrode, reference frame

Example sentences from the Web for referable

There are cases of gastric cancer in which the symptoms are all referable to secondary cancer of the peritoneum.

A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II |Various
The hind wings are usually smoky brown, with a paler central band, but in some specimens, referable to ab.

The Moths of the British Isles, Second Series |Richard South
The dark complexions of the Gheghides may, or may not, be referable to Slavonic intermixture.

The Ethnology of Europe |Robert Gordon Latham
And this is the case with phenomena, as regards that in them which is referable to mere sensation.

The Critique of Pure Reason |Immanuel Kant

Such cases are, unquestionably, referable to a determination of blood to the brain.

Sheep, Swine, and Poultry |Robert Jennings

British Dictionary definitions for referable

refer

/ (rɪˈfɜː) /

verb -fers, -ferring or -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

refer to drawer a 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

Derived forms of refer

referable (ˈrɛfərəbəl) or referrable (rɪˈfɜːrəbəl), adjective referral, noun referrer, noun

Word Origin for refer

C14: from Latin referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear 1

usage for refer

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

refer

verb (used with object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

verb (used without object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

Origin of refer

SYNONYMS FOR refer

OTHER WORDS FROM refer

Words nearby refer

Example sentences from the Web for referable

British Dictionary definitions for referable

verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred (often foll by to)

Derived forms of refer

Word Origin for refer

usage for refer

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

refer

verb (used with object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

verb (used without object), re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

Origin of refer

SYNONYMS FOR refer

OTHER WORDS FROM refer

Words nearby refer

Words related to referable

Example sentences from the Web for referable

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for referable

verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred (often foll by to)

Derived forms of refer

Word Origin for refer

usage for refer

British Dictionary definitions for referable