English > refer: 7 senses > verb 1, communicationMeaning | make reference to. |
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Pattern | Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s PP |
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Synonyms | mention, advert, bring up, cite, name |
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Narrower | commend, remember | mention as by way of greeting or to indicate friendship |
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cross-refer | refer from one entry to another, as in catalogues, books, and lists |
drag up, dredge up | mention something unpleasant from the past |
invoke, appeal | cite as an authority |
namedrop | refer to people that one assumes one's interlocutors admire in order to try to impress them |
quote, cite | refer to for illustration or proof |
raise, bring up | Put forward for consideration or discussion |
remember | mention favorably, as in prayer |
speak of the devil | mention someone's name who just then appears |
touch on | refer to or discuss briefly |
Broader | think of, have in mind, mean | Intend to refer to |
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Spanish | advertir, aludir, citar, mencionar, mentar, nombrar, referir |
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Catalan | al·ludir, citar, esmentar, mencionar, nomenar, referir |
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Nouns | reference | a remark that calls attention to something or someone |
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English > refer: 7 senses > verb 2, stativeMeaning | Be relevant to. |
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Pattern | Something is ----ing PP |
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Example | "There were lots of questions referring to her talk" |
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Synonyms | pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have to do with |
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Narrower | apply, hold, go for | Be pertinent or relevant or applicable |
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focus on, center on, revolve around, revolve about, concentrate on, center | Center upon |
involve, affect, regard | Connect closely and often incriminatingly |
matter to, interest | Be of importance or consequence |
Similar to | allude, touch, advert | make a more or less disguised reference to |
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Spanish | atañer, concernir, incumbir, palpar, referirse, referir, relatar, respectar, tocar, tratarse |
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Catalan | concernir, incumbir, palpar, pertocar, referir-se, referir, relatar, tocar, tractar-se |
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Nouns | reference | the most direct or specific meaning / meaning of a word or expression |
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English > refer: 7 senses > verb 6, communicationMeaning | Have as a meaning / meaning. |
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Pattern | Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s PP |
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Synonym | denote |
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Entailed by | allude, touch, advert | make a more or less disguised reference to |
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Narrower | apply | Refer (a word or name) to a person or thing |
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euphemize, euphemise | refer to something with a euphemism |
express, state | Indicate through a symbol, formula, etc. |
hark back, return, come back, recall | go back to something earlier |
name, identify | Give the name or identifying characteristics / characteristics of |
slur | speak disparagingly of |
twist, twist around, pervert, convolute, sophisticate | Practice sophistry |
Broader | mean, intend, signify, stand for | denote or connote |
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Similar to | denote | Be a sign or indication of |
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Spanish | denotar |
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Catalan | denotar |
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Nouns | reference | the most direct or specific meaning / meaning of a word or expression |
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reference | the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to |