Definitions for the word "refer" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. v. t.
To carry or send back.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. v. t.
Hence: To send or direct away; to send or direct elsewhere, as for treatment, aid, information, decision, etc.; to make over, or pass over, to another; as, to refer a student to an author; to refer a beggar to an officer; to refer a bill to a committee; a court refers a matter of fact to a commissioner for investigation, or refers a question of law to a superior tribunal.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. v. t.
To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation; as, he referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. v. i.
To have recourse; to apply; to appeal; to betake one's self; as, to refer to a dictionary.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. v. i.
To have relation or reference; to relate; to point; as, the figure refers to a footnote.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. v. i.
To carry the mind or thought; to direct attention; as, the preacher referred to the late election.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. i.
To direct inquiry for information or a guarantee of any kind, as in respect to one's integrity, capacity, pecuniary ability, and the like; as, I referred to his employer for the truth of his story.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. v.
(-rr-) (usu. Foll. By to) 1 make an appeal or have recourse to (some authority or source of information) (referred to his notes). 2 send on or direct (a person, or a question for decision). 3 (of a person speaking) make an allusion or direct the hearer''s or reader''s attention (did not refer to our problems). 4 (of a statement etc.) Be relevant; relate (these figures refer to last year). 5 send (a person) to a medical specialist etc. 6 (foll. By back to) a return (a document etc.) To its sender for clarification. B send (a proposal etc.) Back to (a lower body, court, etc.). 7 fail (a candidate in an examination). referable adj. [latin refero relat- carry back]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
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