refer

Everyday

1. To refer to someone or something is to talk or write about them. tree →
2. To refer to a book, map or list is to look at it for information. tree →
3. To refer someone to another person or place is to send them there for help. tree →
4. If a word refers to something, it means or names that thing. tree →

In the lessons

In school, teachers say «refer to page 10» or «refer to the table». In maths, «this refers to the number of apples» explains what a letter or number stands for. In everyday life, a doctor refers a patient to a specialist. Phrases: refer to, refer back to, referred to as, refer someone to.

Examples

• Please refer to the map on page 12. tree →
• When I say «the twins», I'm referring to Sam and Alex. tree →
• The doctor referred her to a hospital specialist. tree →
• In the sum, «n» refers to the number of sweets. tree →
• The Moon is sometimes referred to as Earth's satellite. tree →
• Refer back to your notes if you get stuck. tree →
• «It» in the second sentence refers to the dog. tree →
• "What men are these you refer to?" said Deirdre. tree →

Note

Double the r: referred, referring. Nouns: «reference» and «referral». It is almost always followed by «to». In a word problem, asking what a pronoun or letter refers to helps you know which number goes where.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah to refer is to link something to a quality or idea.

Interpretation. In Sefer Yetzirah the ten Sefirot or the letters are linked to ideas such as Life, Peace, Wisdom and Power.

Examples

• They are referred to Life, Peace, Wisdom, Riches, Grace, FertiHty and Power. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• They are referred to Life, Peace, Wisdom, Riches, Grace, Fertility and Power. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• E.) See treatise Berachoth, p. 55 a, where the commentator Rashi referred to the book Yezirah. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Double the r: referred, referring. Nouns: «reference» and «referral». It is almost always followed by «to». In a word problem, asking what a pronoun or letter refers to helps you know which number goes where.