Yahoo India Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   refer

   /rɪˈfəː/

   verb

   • 1. mention or allude to: "her mother never referred to him again" Similar mentionmake mention ofmake reference toallude totouch onspeak of/abouttalk of/aboutwrite aboutcitenamecomment ondeal withgo intotreat (of)notepoint outcall attention tobring upraisebroachintroducerare:advert tomoot
   • ▪ direct the attention of someone to: "I refer my honourable friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago" Similar passhand onsend ontransferremitdirectleavecommitentrustassignhand over
   • ▪ (of a word, phrase, or symbol) describe or denote; have as a referent: "the star refers to items which are intended for the advanced learner" Similar apply tobe relevant tohave relevance toconcernrelate tobelong tobe abouthave to do withbe connected withhave reference topertain toappertain tobe pertinent tohave a bearing onbear onaffectinvolvecovertouchtouch onarchaic:regarddenotedescribeindicatemeandepictsymbolizesignifydesignatestand forrepresent
   • 2. pass a matter to (a higher body) for a decision: "the prisoner may require the Secretary of State to refer his case to the Parole Board"
   • ▪ send or direct someone to a medical specialist: "she was referred to a clinical psychologist for counselling"
   • ▪ read or otherwise use (a source of information) in order to ascertain something; consult: "I always refer to a dictionary when I come upon a new word" Similar consultturn tolook atlook up (in)seek information fromsearch inhave recourse tocall onseek advice fromcall intake counsel fromask
   • 3. trace or attribute something to (someone or something) as a cause or source: archaic "the God to whom he habitually referred his highest inspirations"
   • ▪ regard something as belonging to (a certain period, place, or class): "you went wrong when you referred all legislation to a part of virtue"
   • 4. fail (a candidate in an examination): "twenty-four students passed the prescribed test while four students were referred"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French referer or Latin referre ‘carry back’, from re- ‘back’ + ferre ‘bring’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. referable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points