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Represent vs Refer - What's the difference?

represent | refer |

As verbs the difference between represent and refer

is that represent is to present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify while refer is to direct the attention of.

represent

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify.
  • To portray by pictorial or plastic art; to delineate; as, to represent a landscape in a picture, a horse in bronze, and the like.
  • To portray by mimicry or action of any kind; to act the part or character of; to personate; as, to represent Hamlet.
  • To stand in the place of; to supply the place, perform the duties, exercise the rights, or receive the share, of; to speak and act with authority in behalf of; to act the part of (another); as, an heir represents his ancestor; an attorney represents his client in court; a member of Congress represents his district in Congress.
  • To exhibit to another mind in language; to show; to give one's own impressions and judgement of; to bring before the mind; to set forth; sometimes, to give an account of; to describe.
  • He represented that he was investigating for the police department.
  • To serve as a sign or symbol of; as, mathematical symbols represent quantities or relations; words represent ideas or things.
  • To bring a sensation of into the mind or sensorium; to cause to be known, felt, or apprehended; to present.
  • To form or image again in consciousness, as an object of cognition or apprehension (something presentative, which was originally apprehended by direct presentation).
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    refer

    English

    Verb

    (referr)
  • To direct the attention of.
  • The shop assistant referred me to the help desk on ground floor.
  • To submit to (another person or group) for consideration; to send or direct elsewhere.
  • He referred the matter to the principal.
    to refer a patient to a psychiatrist
  • To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation.
  • He referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
  • (rfex) To allude to, make a reference or allusion to.
  • # (grammar) to be referential to another element in a sentence
  • #:
  • Synonyms

    * delegate * direct

    Derived terms

    * refer to * refer someone to

    Anagrams

    * English palindromes ----