Wordul · all words

verb · 2 syllables · /rɪˈfɜːr/

REFER

What does "REFER" mean?

To mention or allude to something, or to direct someone to a source or specialist.

Meanings

  1. To mention or allude to a person or thing. She never referred to the argument again.
  2. To direct someone or something to a source, authority, or specialist for help or information. The clinic referred him to a cardiologist.
  3. To consult a source for information. Refer to the manual before resetting the device.
  4. Of a word or sign: to denote or point to a thing. The pronoun 'it' refers to the cat in that sentence. technical

Word origin

From Latin 'referre', 'to carry back', from 're-' ('back') plus 'ferre' ('to carry, bear'); the same 'ferre' gives English 'transfer' and 'infer'.

Remember it

RE-FER: you carry ('fer', like 'ferry') the listener BACK to the thing you mean.

Wordplay

  • I told the librarian I needed a book on directing people elsewhere. She just referred me to another desk.

What it teaches

Pointing to the answer and being the answer are different acts; the honest mind knows which one it is doing.

Quick facts

What does REFER mean?

To mention or allude to something, or to direct someone to a source or specialist.

Is REFER a valid word?

Yes — REFER is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is REFER?

REFER has 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Where does REFER come from?

From Latin 'referre', 'to carry back', from 're-' ('back') plus 'ferre' ('to carry, bear'); the same 'ferre' gives English 'transfer' and 'infer'.

What can REFER teach us?

Pointing to the answer and being the answer are different acts; the honest mind knows which one it is doing.

How players do

Be the first to solve it.

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