refer
pronunciation
How to pronounce refer in British English:
UK [rɪˈfɜː(r)]
How to pronounce refer in American English:
US [rɪˈfɜːr]
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- Verb:
- make reference to
- have to do with or be relevant to
- think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another
- send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision
- seek information from
- have as a meaning
Word Origin
- refer
- refer: [14] To refer something is etymologically to ‘carry it back’. The word comes via Old French referer from Latin referre, a compound verb formed from the prefix re- ‘back’ and ferre ‘carry’ (source of English fertile and related to English bear). Of its derivatives, referee [16] is an English coinage, and referendum [19] is an adoption of the neuter gerundive of referre – literally, ‘that which is to be referred’. Relātus, which was used as the past participle of Latin referre, has given English relate.=> bear, referee, referendum
- refer (v.)
- late 14c., "to trace back (to a first cause), attribute, assign," from Old French referer (14c.) and directly from Latin referre "to relate, refer," literally "to carry back," from re- "back" (see re-) + 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. Related: Referred; referring.
Example
- 1. If so , refer back to them when justifying your design .
- 2. Many of the examples used to illustrate the features of the browser refer back to chrome .
- 3. Unfortunately for the optimists , mr chen did not refer to " one china " , nor even explicitly to any " consensus " .
- 4. So they can refer students to outside resources like substance abuse treatment centers , professional therapists , and even health clinics .
- 5. But for now there is no comprehensive way to search through or refer back to the information your friends have shared .