From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrefer to somebody/something phrasal verb1 MENTIONto mention or speak about someone or something We agreed never to refer to the matter again. Although she didn’t mention any names, everyone knew who she was referring to. as He likes to be referred to as ‘Doctor Khee’. by The hospital now refers to patients by name, not case number.Grammar You always refer to someone or something: He referred to my letter. ✗Don’t say: He referred about my letter. | He referred my letter.2 LOOK FORto look at a book, map, piece of paper etc for information He gave the speech without referring to his notes.3 ABOUTif a statement, number, report etc refers to someone or something, it is about that person or thing The figures refer to our sales in Europe.4 SEND refer somebody/something to somebody to send someone or something to a person or organization to be helped or dealt with My doctor is referring me to a dermatologist. My complaint was referred to the manufacturers.5 refer somebody to something formal to tell someone where to find information Readers are referred to the bibliography for further information. → refer→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
refer as• Why do I refer to Euclidean geometry as a physical theory rather than a branch of mathematics?• Botanists often give up and refer to such groups as ` aggregates' or ` complexes'.• Where a convergent or divergent margin has a significant transform component it is appropriate to refer to it as an oblique-slip margin.• Once the dictionary was available, society gained in cohesion because anyone could refer to it as an outside source for comparison.• If there has been a history of rheumatic fever in the past. Refer to other chapters as necessary.• Medieval texts refer to it as one of the fifty-one most sacred places for Hindus.• It is the students who refer to it as the black magic course.• As always, play up your strongest points in the opening paragraph and refer to them as you go along.From Longman Business Dictionaryrefer to phrasal verb [transitive]1 refer to something to mention somethingI refer to your letter of 22 March.2 refer to something to be about something or give information about somethingThese figures refer to first quarter sales.3refer to drawer written abbreviation R/DBANKING the words ‘refer to drawer’ are written on a cheque by a bank when the bank refuses to pay the cheque, usually because there is not enough money in the account4 refer something to somebody/something to send a problem to another place so that a decision can be madeThe merger is likely to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.Disputes can be referred to arbitration. → refer→ See Verb table 