refer

Refer is a verb with several closely related meanings. It commonly means to mention or allude to something or someone, as in “The article refers to several studies.” It can also mean to direct someone to a source of information or assistance, such as “Please refer to the user manual” or “The clinic referred me to a cardiologist.” In addition, refer can mean to attribute something to a particular thing, person, or category, for example “the term refers to a type of fruit.”

In grammar, refer is typically transitive and often followed by to: refer to something, refer to someone, or refer someone to another person or service. It is also used with passive constructions, as in “The passage is referred to as…” In linguistics and philosophy, refer refers to the relationship between a linguistic expression and its referent, the actual object, person, or concept designated by the expression. Distinctions are made between referents and the reader or listener’s interpretation, and pronouns or deictic expressions rely on contextual referents.

Etymology traces refer to the Latin referre, meaning “to bring back” or “to report,” formed from re- “back” and ferre “to carry.” The sense of directing attention, citing sources, or designating a meaning developed through usage in English, yielding the modern verb with its multiple, related senses.