This meaning means to tell someone to go or ask another person or place for information or help. You can refer a friend to a doctor or to a book for answers.
Please refer to the teacher for help.
She referred me to the doctor.
This meaning is about talking or writing about a person or thing. When you refer to something, you use it as an example or mention it in conversation or writing.
He referred to the story in his speech.
Please refer to page ten.
This meaning means that something is about or connected to something else. For example, a word can refer to a thing or idea it describes or is related to.
The word refers to birds, not animals.
This rule refers to safety in the lab.
In medicine or health, to refer means to send someone to another doctor or place for better care or advice. This is common in hospitals and clinics.
The doctor referred me to a specialist.
She was referred to the hospital yesterday.
This use means to mention or point to books, reports, or information sources. It is common in writing or speaking to show where information comes from.
The article refers to many studies.
He referred to the report for data.
This meaning is about saying that something happens because of a cause or is connected to a reason. People can refer events or traits to causes or reasons.
The success was referred to his hard work.
They referred her behavior to stress.
This use is formal and means to send a problem, claim, or case to another authority for a decision or action. It is common in law or official work.
The judge referred the case to a higher court.
They referred the complaint to the police.