refer, refer back

refer, refer back
Refer has much the same meaning as ALLUDE. Specifically it means "to direct one's thoughts or attention" to something else: "Please refer to Chapter 10 for a further explanation of this topic." "The prisoner twice referred to his former employer during the hearing." Refer conveys the idea of back (it is derived from Latin words meaning "back" or "again" and "carry"). Omit back in refer back and avoid wordiness: "The speaker referred (not referred back) to his earlier comments." If the meaning is "to send back," then refer back is permissible but still wordy.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • refer back — index recommit Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • refer back — v. (D; tr.) to refer back to (the report was referred back to the committee) * * * [rɪ fɜː bæk] (d; tr.) to refer back to (the report was refer backred back to the committee) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • refer to — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms refer to : present tense I/you/we/they refer to he/she/it refers to present participle referring to past tense referred to past participle referred to 1) refer to someone/something to mention someone or… …   English dictionary

  • refer — re|fer [ rı fɜr ] verb *** re fer to phrasal verb transitive 1. ) refer to someone/something to mention someone or something when you are speaking or writing: She referred to the subject several times during her speech. Jack was careful not to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • back room — back rooms also back room, backroom 1) N COUNT A backroom is a room that is situated at the back of a building, especially a private room. ...the backroom of the officers club. 2) N COUNT You can use backroom to refer to people in an organization …   English dictionary

  • refer — late 14c., to trace back, attribute, assign, from O.Fr. referer (14c.), from L. referre to relate, refer, lit. to carry back, from re back (see RE (Cf. re )) + ferre carry (see INFER (Cf. infer)). Meaning to commit to some authority for a deci …   Etymology dictionary

  • back-seat driver — back seat drivers also backseat driver 1) N COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to a passenger in a car as a back seat driver, they annoy you because they constantly give you advice. 2) N COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to someone, especially a… …   English dictionary

  • refer — ► VERB (referred, referring) 1) (refer to) mention or allude to. 2) (refer to) direct the attention of (someone) to. 3) (refer to) (of a word or phrase) describe or denote. 4) ( …   English terms dictionary

  • Back to Back — may refer to * Back to Back , a 1983 album by Status Quo * Back to Back (album) , an album by a combination of The Shadows and The Ventures * , an album by Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges *Back to back houses, a form of terraced house, common in …   Wikipedia

  • Refer — Re*fer (r[ e]*f[ e]r ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Referred} (r[ e]*f[ e]rd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Referring}.] [F. r[ e]f[ e]rer, L. referre; pref. re re + ferre to bear. See {Bear} to carry.] 1. To carry or send back. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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