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# refer

verb (refer, refers, referred, referring)

«refer» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To refer to someone or something is to talk or write about them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#m1)
2. To refer to a book, map or list is to look at it for information. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#m2)
3. To refer someone to another person or place is to send them there for help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#m3)
4. If a word refers to something, it means or names that thing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x1)
- When I say «the twins», I'm referring to Sam and Alex. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x2)
- The doctor referred her to a hospital specialist. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x3)
- In the sum, «n» refers to the number of sweets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x4)
- The Moon is sometimes referred to as Earth's satellite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x5)
- Refer back to your notes if you get stuck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x6)
- «It» in the second sentence refers to the dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x7)
- "What men are these you refer to?" said Deirdre. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/#x8)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/refer/#x1)
- They are referred to Life, Peace, Wisdom, Riches, Grace, Fertility and Power. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/refer/#x2)
- E.) See treatise Berachoth, p. 55 a, where the commentator Rashi referred to the book Yezirah. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/refer/#x3)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «refer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«refer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/refer.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «refer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/refer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«refer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/refer.html) on Mova free.