[ri-fur] 
verb, -ferred, -fer⋅ring.| 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. |
| 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. |
| re·fer (rĭ-fûr') v. re·ferred, re·fer·ring, re·fers v. tr.
[Middle English referren, from Old French referer, from Latin referre : re-, re- + ferre, to carry; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.] ref'er·a·ble (rěf'ər-ə-bəl, rĭ-fûr'-) adj., re·fer'ral n., re·fer'rer n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to call or direct attention to something: referred to my indiscretion; adverting to childhood experiences; often mentions his old friend. See Also Synonyms at attribute, resort. Usage Note: It is sometimes believed that the phrase refer back is redundant, since the prefix re- means "back," but the objection is misplaced. In fact, an expression can refer either to something that has already been mentioned or to something that is yet to be mentioned, and the distinction between refer back and refer ahead may thus be required for clarification. For example, the sentence Jones promised that if he was elected to the council, Harris would be made the council president is ambiguous, because the pronoun he may either refer back or refer ahead. See Usage Notes at allude, redundancy. |
