(~s, ~ring, ~red)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ to a particular subject or person, you talk about them or mention them.
In his speech, he ~red to a recent trip to Canada.
VERB: V to n
2.
If you ~ to someone or something as a particular thing, you use a particular word, expression, or name to mention or describe them.
Marcia had ~red to him as a dear friend...
VERB: V to n as n
3.
If a word ~s to a particular thing, situation, or idea, it describes it in some way.
The term electronics ~s to electrically-induced action.
VERB: V to n
4.
If a person who is ill is ~red to a hospital or a specialist, they are sent there by a doctor in order to be treated.
Patients are mostly ~red to hospital by their general practitioners...
The patient should be ~red for tests immediately.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n, be V-ed
5.
If you ~ a task or a problem to a person or an organization, you formally tell them about it, so that they can deal with it.
He could ~ the matter to the high court.
VERB: V n to n
6.
If you ~ someone to a person or organization, you send them there for the help they need.
Now and then I ~red a client to him.
VERB: V n to n
7.
If you ~ to a book or other source of information, you look at it in order to find something out.
He ~red briefly to his notebook.
VERB: V to n
8.
If you ~ someone to a source of information, you tell them the place where they will find the information which they need or which you think will interest them.
Mr Bryan also ~red me to a book by the American journalist Anthony Scaduto.
VERB: V n to n