I. ˌre-fə-ˈrē noun
Date: 1621
1. : one to whom a thing is referred: as
a. : a person to whom a legal matter is referred for investigation and report or for settlement
b. : a person who reviews a paper and especially a technical paper and recommends that it should or should not be published
c. chiefly British : reference 4a
2. : a sports official usually having final authority in administering a game
II. verb
( -eed ; -ee·ing )
Date: 1889
transitive verb
1. : to conduct (as a match or game) as referee
2.
a. : to arbitrate (as a legal matter) as a judge or third party
b. : to review (as a technical paper) before publication
intransitive verb
: to act as a referee