re·fer

[ri-fur] verb, re·ferred, re·fer·ring.
verb (used with object)
1.
to direct for information or anything required: He referred me to books on astrology.
2.
to direct the attention or thoughts of: The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
3.
to hand over or submit for information, consideration, decision, etc.: to refer the argument to arbitration.
4.
to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related.
5.
to have relation; relate; apply.
verb (used without object)
6.
to direct attention, as a reference mark does.
7.
to have recourse or resort; turn, as for aid or information: to refer to one's notes.
8.
to make reference or allusion: The author referred to his teachers twice in his article.
00:10
Refer is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
chat, to converse
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English referren < Latin referre to bring back, equivalent to re- re- + ferre to bring, bear1

Related forms
ref·er·a·ble, re·fer·ra·ble, re·fer·ri·ble [ref-er-uh-buhl, ri-fur-] , 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

Synonyms
4. attribute, ascribe, impute. 5. pertain, belong. 8. advert, allude.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To refer
Collins
World English Dictionary
refer (rɪˈfɜː) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb , -fers, -ferring, -ferred
1.  (intr) to make mention (of)
2.  (tr) to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc: the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965
3.  (intr) to seek information (from): I referred to a dictionary of English usage; he referred to his notes
4.  (intr) to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to): this song refers to an incident in the Civil War
5.  (tr) to assign or attribute: Cromwell referred his victories to God
6.  (tr) to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision: to refer a complaint to another department
7.  (tr) to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
8.  (Brit) (tr) to fail (a student) in an examination
9.  (Brit) (tr) to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
10.  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
11.  (tr) to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
12.  (tr) social welfare to direct (a client) to another agency or professional for a service
 
[C14: from Latin referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear1]
 
usage  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
 
referable
 
—adj
 
referrable
 
—adj
 
re'ferral
 
—n
 
re'ferrer
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
As an option, print and copy these paragraphs so students can refer to the
  information on their own papers.
They need to learn how to cite, how to refer, how to use quotation marks for
  direct quotations as opposed to indirect ones.
She finally complained of new symptoms which this experienced physician could
  no longer refer to local affections.
Doctors who used to shun him now sometimes refer patients.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT