refer

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled referrin

US /ɹɪˈfɝ/ UK /ɹɪˈfɜː/ See IPA manual

Freq #6704

Meanings

1

verb
To mention or talk about something or someone.

To explain the problem, the teacher referred to an example in another textbook.
2

verb
To send someone to a person or place for help or information.

The shop assistant referred me to the help desk on the ground floor.
3

verb
To send a patient to a specialist for treatment or advice.

The doctor referred her to a heart specialist.
4

verb
To be about or connected to something.

There were many questions referring to the professor's talk.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with refer

refer to Prepositional verb A2

to consult a source for information

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to send someone to a person... send

4 verb · to be about or connected to... touch

More delegate direct

Word family

Forms referedreferingreferredreferringrefers

Derived forms corefercross-referdereferermisreferreferee referentrefermentreferologistreferrablereferrerrerefer

Related forms reference referral relate relation relationship relative

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

refer to
to consult a source for information

Verb + preposition/particle

Simplified etymology

Refer, recorded in late Middle English, comes from Latin referre, “carry back,” formed from re- “back” and ferre “bring.”

Etymology

From Middle English referren, from Old French referer, from Latin referre. The noun (used in journalism) is from the verb. Doublet of relate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prelate and prefer among others.

*bʰer- Proto-Indo-European referren Middle English referer Old French referre Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# refer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˈfɝ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹɪˈfɜː/
**Frequency rank:** 6704

## Meanings
1. To mention or talk about something or someone.
2. To send someone to a person or place for help or information.
3. To send a patient to a specialist for treatment or advice.
4. To be about or connected to something.

## Examples
- To explain the problem, the teacher referred to an example in another textbook.
- The shop assistant referred me to the help desk on the ground floor.
- The doctor referred her to a heart specialist.
- There were many questions referring to the professor's talk.

## Synonyms
- delegate
- direct

## Derived Forms
- corefer
- cross-refer
- dereferer
- misrefer
- referee
- referent
- referment
- referologist
- referrable
- referrer
- rerefer

## Related Forms
- reference
- referral
- relate
- relation
- relationship
- relative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰer-
- Root: referren
- Root: referer
- Root: referre

## Etymology
From Middle English referren, from Old French referer, from Latin referre. The noun (used in journalism) is from the verb. Doublet of relate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prelate and prefer among others.

## AI Etymology
Refer comes from Middle English referren, from Old French referer, from Latin referre. The noun (used in journalism) is from the verb. Doublet of relate. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prelate and prefer among others. Modern senses include to mention or talk about something or someone. and to send someone to a person or place for help or information.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as corefer, cross-refer, dereferer, misrefer, referee, and referent and related forms such as reference, referral, relate, and relation.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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