📖 R — The English dictionary · page 18

refer — Everyday, meaning 1: To refer to someone or something is to talk or write about them.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To refer to a book, map or list is to look at it for information.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To refer someone to another person or place is to send them there for help.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: If a word refers to something, it means or names that thing.↗ Example: Please refer to the map on page 12.↗ · When I say «the twins», I'm referring to Sam and Alex.↗ · The doctor referred her to a hospital specialist.↗ · In the sum, «n» refers to the number of sweets.↗ · The Moon is sometimes referred to as Earth's satellite.↗ · Refer back to your notes if you get stuck.↗ · «It» in the second sentence refers to the dog.↗ · "What men are these you refer to?" said Deirdre.↗ · They are referred to Life, Peace, Wisdom, Riches, Grace, FertiHty and Power.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · They are referred to Life, Peace, Wisdom, Riches, Grace, Fertility and Power.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · E.) See treatise Berachoth, p. 55 a, where the commentator Rashi referred to the book Yezirah.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

referee — Everyday, meaning 1: A referee is the person who makes sure players follow the rules in a game like football, rugby or basketball, and decides what happens when they do not.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A referee is a person who writes about you to say you are good for a job or school place.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To referee is to act as the referee in a game.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To referee an argument is to help people sort it out fairly.↗ Example: The referee blew the whistle for half-time.↗ · The referee showed him a red card.↗ · Don't argue with the referee.↗ · Our teacher refereed the netball match.↗ · The referee gave us a penalty.↗ · Mum had to referee a fight over the TV remote.↗ · In rugby the referee explains decisions out loud.↗ · A good referee is fair to both teams.↗

reference — Everyday, meaning 1: Talking about or mentioning something.↗ e.g. "She made a reference to the trip."↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A book or website where you look up facts, like a dictionary or encyclopedia.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A note that says where you found a piece of information.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A letter from someone who knows you, saying you are good for a job or school.↗ Example: A dictionary is a reference book.↗ · Write down your references at the end of the project.↗ · Keep the times table on the wall for reference.↗ · The film makes a reference to an old fairy tale.↗ · The teacher wrote a reference for my sister.↗ · The library has a big reference section.↗ · Use the tree as a reference point on the map.↗ · N] = original page markers; [N] = note references (notes are in sy08 section).↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · The Siphra Dtzeniouta, or Book of Concealed Mystery, translated by Mac Gregor Mathers, in his " Kabalah Denudata," opens with a reference to this Equilibrium as a fundamental neces- sity of stable existence.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · It should probably be understood on one level as a reference to the ten digits of the decimal numeral system, though as we shall see, these Sefirot Belimah are imbued with metaphysical significance beyond mere numerals.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

referendum — Everyday, meaning 1: A referendum is a vote in which all the voters of a country or area decide one important question directly, usually by answering yes or no.↗ Example: The country held a referendum on whether to change the voting system.↗ · In a referendum, every voter answers the same question.↗ · The Brexit referendum asked if the UK should leave the European Union.↗ · Ireland must hold a referendum to change its constitution.↗ · The result of the referendum was very close.↗ · Our school had a mini referendum on whether to have a uniform-free day.↗

referent — Everyday, meaning 1: (language, formal) The real thing, person or idea that a word or phrase points to: in «the dog barked», the referent of «the dog» is the actual dog.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The thing that a pronoun like «it» or «she» refers back to.↗ Example: In «Sam lost his hat», the referent of «his» is Sam.↗ · Find the referent of «it» in the sentence.↗ · The word «Paris» has a city as its referent.↗ · An unclear referent makes a sentence confusing.↗ · In «The cats ate their food», the referent of «their» is the cats.↗ · Ask yourself: what is the referent of «they»?↗

referral — Everyday, meaning 1: A referral is the act of sending someone to another person or place that can help them better, especially from a family doctor to a specialist.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A referral is also the letter or note that does this.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (money, business) A referral is when a customer recommends a shop or service to someone else, sometimes for a reward.↗ Example: The doctor gave my brother a referral to an eye specialist.↗ · We are waiting for a referral letter from the hospital.↗ · My teacher made a referral to the speech therapist.↗ · The dentist sent a referral to the orthodontist about my teeth.↗ · The gym gives you a free month for every referral.↗ · Most of the shop's new customers come from referrals.↗

refill — Everyday, meaning 1: To refill something is to fill it again after it has become empty.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A refill is a second filling, like another cup of a drink, or a new supply that goes into something, like ink for a pen.↗ Example: Refill your water bottle before the race.↗ · Can I have a refill of juice, please?↗ · Dad refilled the car with petrol.↗ · This pen takes ink refills.↗ · Refilling a bottle is better than buying a new plastic one.↗ · The bird feeder needs refilling.↗ · The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before.↗

refine — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: To make something purer or better by taking out what is not wanted.↗ Example: For there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.↗ (Writings JOB.28.1, JPS 1917)↗ · The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed of the fire; in vain doth the founder refine, for the wicked are not separated.↗ (Prophets JER.6.29, JPS 1917)↗ · And some of them that are wise shall stumble, to refine among them, and to purify, and to make white, even to the time of the end; for it is yet for the time appointed.↗ (Writings DAN.11.35, JPS 1917)↗

refined — Everyday, meaning 1: Polite, well-mannered and with good taste.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Pure, with the rough parts removed (refined sugar, refined gold).↗ Example: The refined lady spoke softly and ate politely.↗ · Refined sugar is whiter than brown sugar.↗ · The jeweller made a ring of refined gold.↗ · For Thou, O God, hast tried us; Thou hast refined us, as silver is refined.↗ (Writings PSA.66.10, JPS 1917)↗ · Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have tried thee in the furnace of affliction.↗ (Prophets ISA.48.10, JPS 1917)↗ · The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.↗ (Writings PSA.12.7, JPS 1917)↗

refinement — Everyday, meaning 1: Good manners, fine taste and polish.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A small improvement or fine detail.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The cleaning of something to make it pure.↗ Example: Her refinement showed in her gentle manners.↗ · The refinement of crude oil makes it fit for engines.↗ · The drawing had many small refinements.↗

refiner — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A person who purifies metal by melting it.↗ Example: For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap; (Prophets MAL.3.2, JPS 1917)↗ · Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner; (Writings PRO.25.4, JPS 1917)↗ · And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; and there shall be they that shall offer unto the LORD offerings in righteousness.↗ (Prophets MAL.3.3, JPS 1917)↗

refining — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Purifying, as when metal is melted to remove the dross.↗ Example: The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.↗ (Writings PRO.17.3, JPS 1917)↗ · The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.↗ (Writings PRO.27.21, JPS 1917)↗

reflect — Everyday, meaning 1: When a surface reflects light, sound or heat, it sends it back.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A mirror or water reflects you when it shows your image.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To reflect on something means to think about it carefully.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To reflect something can mean to show it, like a face reflecting how someone feels.↗ Example: A mirror reflects light.↗ · The Moon reflects light from the Sun.↗ · The trees were reflected in the lake.↗ · Reflect the triangle in the dotted line.↗ · Wear something that reflects light when you walk at night.↗ · Take a minute to reflect on what you learned today.↗ · White roofs reflect heat and keep houses cool.↗ · Her smile reflected how happy she was.↗ · Smee reflected.↗ “I can’t think of a thing,” he said regretfully.↗ · The double consonants are seven, בגד כפרת and not six, they are seven and not eight; reflect upon this (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · A similar view is reflected in the midrashicic and Kabbalistic literature, where Torah or Wisdom acts as a participant or instrument in the Work of Creation; see e.g. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

reflection — Everyday, meaning 1: A reflection is the picture you see in a mirror, in water or on a shiny surface.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In science, reflection is light, sound or heat bouncing back off a surface.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In maths, a reflection is a flip of a shape over a line (a mirror line) so it looks like its mirror image.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Reflection is also careful thinking about something.↗ Example: The cat stared at its reflection in the mirror.↗ · I saw the mountains' reflection in the still lake.↗ · Draw the reflection of the triangle in the mirror line.↗ · Reflection of light lets us see the Moon.↗ · An echo is a reflection of sound.↗ · On reflection, I think I was unfair.↗ · Write a short reflection about your science project.↗ · I have got it all from my reflections and thoughts.↗

reflective — Everyday, meaning 1: Reflective means able to send back light, like a mirror or the shiny strips on a safety vest.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Reflective also means quiet and thoughtful, thinking carefully about things.↗ Example: Wear a reflective vest when you walk home in the dark.↗ · My backpack has reflective strips.↗ · A mirror is very reflective.↗ · Drivers can see reflective clothes in their headlights.↗ · Black cloth is not reflective; it absorbs light.↗ · Snow is so reflective that it can hurt your eyes.↗ · She was quiet and reflective after the film.↗ · Write a reflective paragraph about your trip.↗

reflector — Everyday, meaning 1: A reflector is something with a shiny surface that sends light (or heat or sound) back towards where it came from, such as the small reflectors on bikes and bags.↗ Example: My bike has a red reflector at the back.↗ · Wear a jacket with reflectors when you walk home in the dark.↗ · The car's headlights lit up the reflectors on my bag.↗ · Cat's eyes on the road are reflectors that show the lanes.↗ · A torch has a shiny reflector behind the bulb.↗ · The cyclist's reflectors glowed in the dark.↗ · Reflectors do not make their own light; they bounce it back.↗ · The telescope uses a big curved mirror as a reflector.↗

reflex — Everyday, meaning 1: A reflex is something your body does by itself, very quickly, without you deciding to, such as blinking when something flies at your eye or pulling your hand off a hot pan.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Reflexes are how quickly you can react: a goalkeeper with fast reflexes.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In maths, a reflex angle is an angle bigger than 180 degrees but smaller than 360 degrees.↗ Example: I blinked as a reflex when the ball flew at my face.↗ · Pulling your hand away from a hot plate is a reflex.↗ · The doctor tapped my knee and my leg kicked by itself.↗ · Our goalkeeper has amazing reflexes.↗ · A reflex angle is bigger than a straight line.↗ · An angle of 270 degrees is a reflex angle.↗ · Sneezing and coughing are reflexes that clear your nose and throat.↗

refocus — Everyday, meaning 1: To bring your attention or effort back to something, or onto something new.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To adjust a camera, telescope or your eyes again so that the picture becomes sharp.↗ Example: After the fire drill, the class took a minute to refocus.↗ · Take a deep breath and refocus on your work.↗ · The coach told us to refocus after we lost the first goal.↗ · Turn the knob to refocus the microscope.↗ · My eyes needed to refocus after staring at the screen.↗ · The company decided to refocus on making toys.↗

reform — Everyday, meaning 1: To change and improve a system, law or organisation.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To change your behaviour and become a better person: a reformed thief.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) A change that improves something: school reforms.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (re-form, with hyphen) To form again: the line re-formed.↗ Example: The government wants to reform the schools.↗ · Laws were reformed so children couldn't work in mines.↗ · The thief reformed and became honest.↗ · Voting reform gave more people a vote.↗ · He is a reformed character now.↗ · The class re-formed into a line after break.↗

reformation — Everyday, meaning 1: (church, history) The Reformation was the time, about five hundred years ago in Europe, when some Christians broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and started Protestant churches.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A reformation is a big change that makes something better, especially a person's behaviour or a system.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) The act of reforming something, putting it right again.↗ Example: We learned that the Reformation split the Church in Western Europe.↗ · Martin Luther is famous for starting the Reformation in Germany.↗ · After the Reformation, many churches held services in English instead of Latin.↗ · The new head teacher brought about a reformation of the school rules.↗ · The story tells of a thief's reformation into an honest man.↗ · The town hall needed a total reformation of the way it spent money.↗ · Our RE teacher drew a timeline of the Reformation on the board.↗