Definition of
Refer
- (verb, communication) make reference to
- (verb, stative) be relevant to
My remark pertained to your earlier comments - (verb, cognition) think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another
- (verb, motion) send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision
refer a bill to a committee - (verb, communication) seek information from
refer to your notes - (verb, communication) have as a meaning
- (verb, communication) use a name to designate
via WordNet, Princeton University
Synonyms of Refer
advert, bear on, bring up, cite, come to, concern, consult, denote, have-to doe with, look up, mention, name, pertain, relate, touch, touch on
Alternate forms of Refer
Derivations: referee, reference, referral
Hyponyms: affect, appeal, apply, bring up, center, center on, cite, come back, commend, concentrate on, convolute, cross-refer, drag up, dredge up, euphemise, euphemize, express, focus on, go for, hark back, hold, identify, interest, invoke, involve, matter to, name, namedrop, pervert, quote, raise, recall, recommit, regard, remember, return, revolve about, revolve around, slur, sophisticate, speak of the devil, state, subject, submit, touch on, twist, twist around
Hypernyms: assort, call, class, classify, direct, have in mind, intend, mean, name, research, send, separate, signify, sort, sort out, stand for, think of
Origin of the word Refer
- late 14c., "to trace back, attribute, assign," from O.Fr. referer (14c.), from L. referre "to relate, refer," lit. "to carry back," from re- "back" + ferre "carry" (see infer). Meaning "to commit to some authority for a decision" is from mid-15c.; sense of "to direct (someone) to a book, etc." is from c.1600. more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper
Words that sound like Refer
raper, rapier, rapper, raver, reaper, reappear, rebury, reefer, referee, repair, repairer, revere, reverie, revery, reviewer, ribier, riparia, ripper, river, river aire, rivera, riviera, rob roy, robber, robbery, roofer, roper, rover, rubber, rubbery, rubor, ruhr river
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